MADISON (WKOW) -- A new federal mandate means your insurance must cover the cost of birth control. Women's health groups in Madison and across the country are calling it a historic day.
Starting next year, any woman with insurance, including Badgercare, will be able to get their birth control for free.
The announcement came Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says it's part of the Affordable Care Act's move to stop problems before they start.
Immediately women in Madison were reacting to the idea of free birth control. Erin West of Madison says, "I think it's a step in the right direction."
Drew Luhn of Madison says, "I don't think it's a good thing."
Amy Bennett, a mother of an 8 month old son, says, "It's great. I think it's a huge thing for all women. It's going to save a lot of money."
The requirement means women can pick any birth control that works for them, cost no longer a factor is deciding what form to use.
For Bennett, it's great news. She says, "I would take an oral because it's cheaper, but now I can choose my own path rather than go with one chosen for me."
Amanda Harrington, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood advocates of Wisconsin says, "The bottom line is women should be able to have access to contraceptive method best for them, that changes over the course of a women's life, it changes according to each woman's individual needs."
The requirement would cover all FDA approved contraception, including the controversial morning after pill, something not everyone is on board with.
Drew Luhn says, "I think birth control is taken by too many girls and taken for not good enough reasons."
Proponents of the changes say women have unique health care needs and studies show more than half of young adult women have not taken birth control consistently because they can't afford to.
Sara Eskrich says, "Giving women this sort of preventative care will save us in unintended pregnancy rates which are exceptionally high in Wisconsin. Up to 45% of births in Wisconsin are unintended pregnancies."
Sara Eskrich is the healthcare reform policy coordinator for the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health. She says the idea that these new regulations will actually increase your premium, is wrong.
Sara Eskrich says, "Women are going to save their insurers money by being covered in this sort of preventative way by going in and getting these services early. Their insurers will save up to 16 % of their annual costs."
This new requirement goes beyond just covering contraception. It also means women will not have to pay out of pocket for the following:
-Annual well-women exams
-Screening for gestational diabetes
-Breast-feeding support, including breast pumps for nursing mothers
-Domestic violence screening
New health plans will need to comply with these regulations by August 1st of 2012 or they can decide to implement the changes earlier.
