Somaily Nieves / Contributing Writer
Freedom of religion or freedom for contraceptives?
The Affordable Care Act began to cover birth control for many insured women on Aug. 1, 2012. With the commencement of this act, uproar arose from religious leaders and conservatives which find the policy to be an attack against the first amendment, particularly freedom of religion.
Controversy has ignited due to discussions on who should be exempt from offering the coverage.
Religiously affiliated companies don’t feel they should be obligated to cover birth control for their employees because of their religious beliefs. Due to objections, religious employers will be exempt from covering the women’s preventative health services to their employees.
Isaac Lopez, a senior majoring in geography, believes the measures taken to protect religiously affiliated companies are fair.
“The First Amendment is very clear that congressmen shall make no law in terms of offending people’s religious duties or obligations,” Lopez said. “People who don’t agree with it for religious reasons should not be obligated to be forced to pay taxes for them.”
Didier Georges, outgoing president of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and senior studying international relations, opposes Lopez’s views and suggests that, “the whole act itself, I agree is a positive thing. Specifically the section referring to birth control for me is not a deal breaker, offering stuff to make people safer, I don’t think it necessarily goes against religion.”
Georges believes the focus is not in the right place.
“They should not focus on who is getting birth control for free, but it’s a question of why premarital sex is wrong and why abortion is wrong,” he said. “That should be the focus, not necessarily what the government wants us to pay for.”
Although the mandate poses a fueled debate, it is believed to be a step in the right direction for women’s health. The act will cover an array of services that includes contraception. The plan covers HPV screenings, STI screenings, domestic violence screenings, breastfeeding counseling and supplies as well as many other services that would aid women in living healthier lives.
Sarah Kenneally, Senior Health Educator at the University Health Services Wellness Center, believes this new mandate will benefit University women since more females will have access to services and begin getting more necessary screenings.
“College students have the highest rates of STDs. As far as sexual health they don’t know about the rates or HPV,” Kenneally said.
The price of birth control and women’s health screenings can become costly as described by Sarah Varon, junior and public relations major.
“I often pass on getting the treatments and screenings that are necessary to women simply because I cannot afford it. I am sure this applies to plenty of college students.”
The act could alter the lives of many women at the University who find it difficult to balance their college as well as their health expenses.
“If this act is well utilized by women, early detection of cancer and other diseases could save thousands of lives,” Varon said.
A considerable amount of issues have stemmed from the enactment of the Affordable Care Act that still needs to be addressed, but many changes will arise from this act as well. Thomas A. Breslin, professor of politics and international relations believes there is one basic right for all people.
“The Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction. But there’s a long way to go to provide all Americans with a basic human right, adequate and affordable healthcare.”
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