Reader’s view: Insurance should cover birth control for women

I am a retired physician after 30 years in family practice and six years in the emergency room.

Even though birth control often is covered under insurance, it is not mandatory that all women use birth control. There are side effects to all forms of birth control, as there are to most medications. I feel a woman should consult her physicians before using birth control to see if it is appropriate for her.

If it is not covered by insurance, it could be a hardship to the poor. I’m afraid it would lead to unwanted births and possibly abortions. The rich would not suffer because they could afford to pay for birth control.

If all abortions were denied, the poor would be the ones to suffer, as there would be unwanted children or back-alley abortions with dangers to health.

I agree the best form of birth control is to just say “no.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work.

In closing, I strongly feel there is a reason for insurance to cover birth control.

Dr. Robert A. Stanley

Ashland

Tags: readers views, opinion, editorials, health, money