Controversial contraceptive mandate goes into effect

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I'm beginning today some key provisions of the health care overhaul going to affect most concerning health care.

For women and for example many women will now get free preventive screenings free counseling on preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

I'm most women will get access for free to contraception.

And also some counseling -- as well for pregnant women -- put our women that are.

-- postpartum for example they're gonna have access to counseling and equipment needed for breast feeding all that for free.

When they go to their doctors -- Judy Waxman is vice president for health and reproductive rights at the national.

Women's how women's law center and Sally pipes is president and CEO for Pacific research institute nice to have you both with sets today.

That yesterday you Judy you worked on this -- this lot was that we would gave an input into it just tell us.

How this is actually apply to today except for seven wants to go to their doctor is -- wants to get.

Birth control for example did they just automatically get it for free.

-- First of all -- of it is for free you.

The new services for women that plans we'll have to cover will be rolled out.

So starting today as a health insurance from your company.

Green news or becomes a new plan at that point then you will be able to obtain.

Preventive health services.

New eight new services without an extra co pay.

Meaning that you don't have to pay extra the day you receive the sir see your insurance company pays for it still that's why it's not free but Peterson have to offer the additional -- -- to I have that right.

That is correct pages want to make sure Saudi what do you see if activist mean.

Well.

I think it's going to add to the cost of health care because -- the Congressional Budget Office has said.

The free preventative services which came into effect in September 2011 and now today's.

And patent it and the law effect going into effect I think it's gonna push the cost of health care up.

And I think that's bad it's bad it's bad for business we're in a recession.

We want employers to have the flexibility to provide the kind of health care that they think.

Is best for their employees and this mandate I think is moving away from that and and a one wonders what will the ultimate impact be of this federal law.

On adding additional mandates control what insurance companies have to.

Offer in the plans and what companies have to cover.

Judy on that point it is -- -- it goes to active cost -- -- that somebody is paying at.

Even know we need not have a co pay for it so.

What concerns you -- how about it about -- coverage in general and access to different services.

If it costs may go out to cover -- With the patients don't.

Well preventive services are something that the American public has wanted for a long time instead of having our health care system just treat.

Sick people when they get sick.

The point of this is to help people stay healthy.

And that lower cost because they services they will need something -- spot found early.

Will be less expensive in the future we're trying to make our health care system about health.

Not a chatty thing -- -- I -- if something is free and there's no co pay for that.

It does it automatically people mean that people actually use it well actually use into the preventative.

Offerings.

Well that's the point the scientists that came up with this list feel that.

These are the kind of services.

That women should take advantage of because they will be healthier and have healthy families.

And be -- keep their families healthier.

If they take those services up so.

Any payment up front and is a -- -- to taking up these services there are many studies left and it can't win his site.

Let me get Sally in on this -- -- it is there a list at comparable list from now and -- that there is preventative services that are out there because in the health care law.

Where men don't have to offer -- and they get send some services that they didn't previously half.

As well under the law as.

I mentioned back since the September 11 -- of their there are a number of things are covered under preventative services.

Including you know free prostate.

The PS it the the -- that prostate tests.

PSA test for man but I think the issue is what is going to be the demand because I think I'm Canadian I grew up under government run health care the government had no idea.

What the demand for health care would be when people thought it was free.

And of course then they had to set a global budget which -- results in denied care rationed care and lack of access to the latest technology I'm very concerned.

Under this free preventive services.

That you know that there's going to be a tremendous demand and is going to.

Cause insurance companies to really think you -- can't how are we gonna stay in business to provide these services when when when the costs are completely out of control.

President is saying is that we're gonna have to wait for a little bit to see what the effect is going to be -- this is rolled out as one of the reasons why want to talk about today because today's today.

The Health Department says this is where things start to change I -- in -- nice have you both with us today thank you so much.

Thank you --

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Controversial contraceptive mandate goes into effect

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