By Diana Nuno, Executive Editor
When Obama brought up a new bill suggesting that all employers offer birth control under their health care plans, private universities and churches were in an uproar. While birth control isn’t always used for reasons relating to sex, opposers of the bill continue to brand it as “unnecessary.”
While I don’t agree with the fact that many feel the pills are specifically used to prevent pregnancy, the harsh reality is that even that reason alone wouldn’t be good enough. Birth control can be expensive, and it seems like a good reason for employers to have to offer it. But my dad, who owns his own business, shouldn’t have to pay for an option for his employees in this economy. It’s just not realistic. Large businesses with CEO’s and employee after employee find this more feasible and are just whining about the change. But small business owners like my dad, don’t need to nor should they have to make the switch. Not only that, but not everyone believes in birth control. Employers shouldn’t have someone else’s beliefs pushed on their own. Yes, I’m also considering the other side: the employee that would benefit from the medication because of other problems not relating to preventing pregnancy.
This controversial issue can’t be branded right or wrong. Each company is entitled to do what they want, and that’s truly what it comes down to.
“They [the companies] are entitled to their opinion. That is why I think it should be an option pay for them,” Health teacher Cindy Miller, said.
I’m not saying who should outlaw birth control or hand it out on street corners. It’s an option that the companies have and should address on their own. The government doesn’t need to assist them because it is the employer’s choice to cover birth control, and the employee’s choice to work where they chose.
“I don’t believe that it’s very fair to make an employer to pay for their employees’ birth control. It’s the employee’s own responsibility to deal with such issues as paying for birth control. It shouldn’t be put onto the employer. It’s not their problem; it’s the employee’s problem,” senior Meggen Southern said.
Many politicians are against the bill as well, and but they don’t agree with birth control in general.
“This has nothing to do with access. This is having someone pay for it, pay for something that shouldn’t even be in an insurance plan anyway because it is not, really an insurable item. This is something that is affordable, available. You don’t need insurance for these types of relatively small expenditures. This is simply someone trying to impose their values on somebody else, with the arm of the government doing so. That should offend everybody, people of faith and no faith that the government could get on a roll that is that aggressive,” Rick Santoroum, a politician, said. I feel as if the decision to cover something so controversial is up to the employer. Every business is different and if enough employees have concerns about the coverage, discuss it with the employer. We don’t need a law to change something that isn’t broken.