Share Your Story: What does birth control without co-pays mean for you?
Has cost ever kept you from using the method of birth control that’s best for you? Has it forced you to make tough choices, like going without birth control or even delaying paying a bill so you can afford it?
Thanks to the health care law, new insurance plans are required to cover birth control and other women’s preventive health services with no co-payments or deductibles at the start of their next plan year. As more health plans come under the law’s reach, more and more women will be able to keep their wallets closed when they pick up their birth control.
Tell us — what does it mean to you that you will soon get birth control with no co-pays or deductibles?
Please note: The views expressed in the stories below are those of the authors themselves and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the National Women's Law Center. All statements of fact in these stories have been provided by the individual authors, and the National Women's Law Center cannot and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Center will compile the stories and may use them, in whole or in part, in our advocacy efforts.
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Your Stories
Jessica Drew
Plymouth, Massachusetts, Human Resources
Today I learned that my healthcare plan does not provide for ANY birth control coverage. I need birth control to control my PCOS and to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. I will be attending law school in the fall and I do not have a lot of money to pay for prescription drugs, especially ones that should be free! All I can say is, I am thankful for Planned Parenthood and the services they provide. With their help, I am going to pay for birth control at a much lower rate than I would at a pharmacy. It is time that Congress and our government recognizes the importance of making birth control accessible and affordable for every woman!
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Sylvia
Richmond Hill, Georgia, Bank fraud officer
What birth control pills mean to me with out copay or any payment? It really means that I can control my own destiny. It gives the control to the woman when she would want to have children. It is a better way for a family to plan their future . I know a great deal about all kind of contraceptions because I have started few websites for those, who are curious about types of contraceptive implants. I have done an extensive research and thought it would benefit others. I also write a lot about here - birth control implant.
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Tammy Ritchie
Houston, Texas,
I believe in birth control because some people are not mentally fit or even responsible enough to be parents. My parents (if that's what you can call them) are an excellent example since they had me when they were 14 (mother) and 18 (father) years of age. They are into street narcotics, marijuana, alcohol, and sex addiction. I know, you're wondering why they are perfect examples of why birth control IS A MUST so let me give you these little bits of information to you in order for you to think twice about taking away all forms of birth control to everyone that isn't rich... I was left in the car in front of a bar so my "parents" could drink with their friends when I was 9, been in a few bars when I was younger (including a strip club), as a teenager they left me behind while I was ill ALONE so they could go to a comedy club, and I was sexually abused by my "father" for nine years. My "mother" didn't care (at least he was home instead of going out with other women) that my "father" was doing this to me. Fortunately my "father" used condoms otherwise I would have had given birth to my brothers/sons or sisters/daughters.Another thing to think about it, If my "mother" wasn't on birth control after my birth I would have had younger siblings that had to suffer the same childhood that I had.My never-born brothers and sisters are THANKFUL for birth control!! There are times when I just wish that my "mother" had taken birth control BEFORE she had me. I'm certain that many severely abused children wished that their "parents" had done the same (wished they were never born). Never forget the MANY news reports of children being killed by their "parents". If you don't allow access to birth control for all, then wouldn't you be condeming more children to being put upon this Earth to suffer at the hands of uncaring people who would ditch, kill or even sell these children any chance those "parents" could get? Who is this "stopping certain people from gaining control of their reproductive health" REALLY benefitting? Certainly not the unborn nor the abusive parents.Please, continue birth control coverage for ALL which truly saves lives (in more ways than one).Thank you.
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PS Nayllor
Canton, Ohio,
I suffer from a rare and dibilitating type of migraine called hemiplegic migraines. They are exacerbated by hormaonal flucuations. I have been on Depro Provera to keep my hormone levels even. I can not afford the monthly dose anymore. I have lost my job of over 20 years due to this problem but since I have good days I am not considered diabled. However, there is not an employer willing to take me on because my health is so unpredictable, I even got kick out of school (an I was on the Dean's List). When I am good I am great but when I am bad I have not only pain but numbness, weakness and loss of motor function. I have blurry vision and slurr my words like a stroke victim but since it is not every day I am not disabled.
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Susan
, Tennessee,
I not only take birth control because I am 24 and nowhere near ready to have children, but also to ease the pain of ovarian cysts. For 2 years after being dropped from my mothers insurance, I couldn't afford birth control. I had to call out of work about 4 days a month when my menstrual cycle came around and sometimes weeks at a time for 3 separate emergency surgeries due to ruptured cysts. I bite the bullet and pay $65 a month now because I'm afraid of worse health problems resulting from the cysts and/or losing my job. I've only found one birth control that doesn't make me sick. Sadly, it's one of the more expensive generics. Since I will soon be required to pay for health insurance, I'm glad the birth control won't add too many extra costs. It's about time, in my opinion.
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Robert Brown
Fircrest, Washington, Teacher
Birth control must be an important part of nearly every married person's life. I cannot imagine being without it when we were young. First of all, I am a sixty-year-old man. I got married when I was twenty-one, and my wife and I were committed to building a family. We simply didn't want to start doing so at that age. We were relatively immature (at least for parenting responsiblities), and we had more education in front of us. Having a baby at that time could have had a devastating effect on our futures. Most of all, we were so in love that avoiding sex would have been both terrible and impossible. Thus, birth control was the only sensible way of handling our situation. We moved through two forms of birth control during our active family creating years. Prior to our first-born, we used the pill. After she was born, we used condoms. That use continued until my wife reached the end of child-bearing years. Nobody can tell me that birth control is not important. By the way, our two daughters are now adults, and they are fully in control of their sex lives. One is married and one is not, but neither have had a surprise baby. I cannot imagine yielding this personal control to politicians who believe they know better.
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Teresa Bieritz
Iowa City,, Iowa,
When I was younger I was told that due to my degenerative disc disease and other back problems, that I have since had two surgeries for, I should not get pregnant. I not only depended on my birth control to keep me from getting pregnant, but a pregnancy would have likely put me in a wheelchair at a very young age. Decisions about my reproductive choices were serious and personal and for my Dr. and I to make, with no one else, be it family, religion or government "helping" in that decision. There are many similar stories with different consequenses for each of us. I could not find a female gynecologist at the time, and was far from home, so I went to Planned Parenthood to have my exams by a female and to get my birth control at a reduced rate, so I could afford it! Many women go there for pap smears, breast exams, pre- natal care etc.. not to have abortions. I am now past the age where I personally have to worry about birth control...but I am still invested in this right for women, since I have nieces and great nieces and other women in this world that I feel should always have the right, to make their own decisions about their own bodies! Separation of church and state is an excellent law and standard that most intelligent men and women will not give up easily! Believe whatever you want about what is right or wrong ...but you had better stop short of making laws that govern what women are "allowed" to do in terms of their reproductive decisions and the access to the necessary medications and procedures keep them as they need or wish to be.
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Don Ghidoni
Claycomo, Missouri, Retired
No riff, no toung in check; for me as a man who has women I care so very much for; it means fewer miscarriages and abortions. This should appease the right wingers, I'm sure most of them will come to realize that as time goes by. Although it won't prevent rape, it will prevent unwanted children as a consequence of rape. It will help in the reduction of over population in the U.S.; I do wish women around the world had access to this program, or better yet universial healthcare. I look forward to the next step in no cost birth control, Vasectomies at no cost. This is something I bring up at every opportunity. As I said earlier; I care very much for not just the well being of the women I know but rather all women and if the rest of you gentlemen who might come to read this comment do as well, you'll advocate for No Cost Vasectomy with the government, your freinds and your family. I had mine very early on in the 60's for all the reasons I've sighted here,excluding rape of course. I don't believe anyone I've ever come in contact with me or femle, would consider me anything else but manly. Hint: I'm 66yrs old and a retired US Marine who has participated in more than a few fire fights. Gentlemen you don't have to decock the gun, just remove the ammo.. Best regards to everyone,Don .
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Edna Becker
Ft. Worth, Texas, disabled
I am no long in need of birth control. However, in my early 40s, the absence of birth control resulted in an unwanted pregnancy for me. I was in an age group that was getting too old for pills and many other forms of birth control. If I had free access to proper information/birthcontrol, perhaps this sad event wouldn't have taken place. I decided to get an abortion. I was single, had raised one child alone & knew those challenges. There were possible birth defects involved as well. Before the abortion took place, twin fetuses were revealed. The choice of abortion is not an easy one and is an unselfesh act. Most often those same people against support for women who can't afford birth control or copays for women's healthcare, are not available once a child is born.
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Marjorie
Houston, Texas, retired RN
Too late for me, but as a nurse I celebrate that this health measure is now available to be covered for women. Dispite the obvious benefits to family planning, so many women need birth control for medical conditions. I am a Catholic in her 60's. I can tell you that the majority of Catholic women that I knew when I was of child bearing age used birth control at some point for family planning. I can't belive that 40 years later there is even a discussion going on. After all, if you do not approve of birth control just don't use it. Simple, done. As a historical note of life without birth control I will tell you of my mother. After 5 children she was told that both she and the baby could die if she had another child. Fortunately that didn't happen when she inevitably became pregnant 4 yrs later. Both she and child fought tremendous health battles. My mom said she cried each time she became pregnant after the first two. Women had no choice. At the time, also, a Catholic woman was not allowed to have a hysterectomy even if desparately needed. Guess the men didn't have to worry as much...they didn't face the health problems and did not have to take care of the children. AND they of course expected their wives to provide them with sex.
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