A little over a year ago, on March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This law made a major difference in young people’s ability to access reproductive health care.

While it guaranteed that preventive care, including lifesaving screenings for breast and cervical cancer, be available at no cost, it did not guarantee that birth control be included in the definition of “preventive care” and therefore be available at no cost.

Right now, government officials in Washington, D.C. and other medical experts are deciding whether no-cost birth control will be part of the new health-care system.

More than half of women aged 18 – 34 say that the cost of prescription birth control has made it difficult for them to use birth control consistently. Removing the economic barrier to birth control would have a major impact on young people’s lives.

I believe that improving women’s access to birth control is one of the most crucial means of preventing unintended pregnancy and thereby reduce the need for abortion. Moreover, it will enable women to make responsible decisions about their health care.

Campus Women’s Coalition is currently collecting signatures in support of the movement. Please join us in calling on our decision-makers to support no-cost birth control.  Contact me at [email protected] to sign the petition or take action by texting bc4me to 49609.

Molly Miles

Campus Women’s

Coalition President