Power

Nearly 350,000 Individuals, Groups Voice Support for Birth Control Benefit

Women's health and advocacy organizations help show the Obama administration that support for the birth control benefit far outweighs opposition to it.

Women's health and advocacy organizations help show the Obama administration that support for the birth control benefit far outweighs opposition to it. Contraceptive pills via Shutterstock

On Monday a coalition of women’s health and advocacy organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Center for Reproductive Rights, along with Rewire readers and other individuals and groups submitted nearly 350,000 comments to the Department of Health and Human Services in support of ensuring women’s access to birth control without co-pays or hassles, regardless of where they work.

Religious institutions and for-profit businesses have teamed up to challenge the birth control benefit in the Affordable Care Act, with nearly 60 lawsuits having been filed in federal court. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is finalizing the scope of the religious exemption to the benefit. The comments were submitted as the administration prepares to issue its final rule related to the benefit and the religious exception.

NWLC Co-President Marcia Greenberger said in a statement, “This unprecedented number of supporters spoke up for the Obama administration’s plan to ensure women’s access to seamless coverage of affordable birth control, no matter where they work or who their boss is.”

Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards added in a statement, “The comments we submitted today came from women and men in all 50 states—and each one represents someone who understands, just like we do at Planned Parenthood, that when insurance companies cover women’s preventive care, including birth control, we all benefit.”