See AP story here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BIRTH_CONTROL_POLITICS?SITE=ILALT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-02-10-17-12-39
“Under fire, Obama adjusts his birth control policy”
Our President back-peddled on Friday and offered a solution to his PR problem caused when he announced that religious organizations would have to provide contraceptive drug coverage to their employees, even when it was against the beliefs of that organization.
President Obama’s solution? Quoting from the AP story: “Under the new plan, religious employers such as charities, universities and hospitals will not have to offer contraception and will not have to refer their employees to places that provide it. If an employer opts out of the requirement, its insurance company must provide birth control for free in a separate arrangement with workers who want it.”
Please read that last sentence again. “If an employer opts out of the requirement, its insurance company must provide birth control for free…….”
Excuse me? Insurance companies are for profit companies. Simplified, insurance premiums are based upon obtaining the employer’s list of offered benefits, then determining what it costs to offer those services, plus a profit. So now, insurers will have to offer an additional benefit – for “free” – because the government says so.
Another quote from the story: “Administration officials say providing birth control won’t cost insurers any more in the long run, because it’s less expensive than the costs of maternal care and delivery. But insurers say they’ll have to pay drug companies for pills and doctors for prescriptions, so it won’t be free to them.” You don’t think the drug companies are going to supply the pills for “free” do you?
And I love the quote about it not costing the insurers any more in the long run, because its less expensive than maternal care. That’s like saying department stores should give everyone a free leather coat because it will cut down on shoplifting! Unbelievable!
We all know the adage “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, and there’s not such thing as a free medical benefit. If one group is getting it free, another group is paying for it. So if you buy health insurance or pay a portion of your employer paid premium, expect your premiums to go up so the President can offer free coverage to those that want it.
The churches, hospitals and groups who objected will still be paying for the contraceptive and abortion services they objected to in the first place. The insurance companies will not be able to charge the organizations directly, but they will surely raise the cost of premiums to the organization to offset the cost of the “FREE” services. Yes, they will certainly raise the costs for the rest of us too.
I object to the premise of the government dictating the benefits and insurance levels offered by private employers to their employees. If the employees are unable to accept their employer declining to pay for services the employer objects to, based upon fundamental principles of the organization…well they should seek employment from an business or organization with principles similar to theirs. Additionally, if the employee is unable to accept the benefit levels, once again, find other employment.