A panel of physicians Tues advised the United States Department of Health that all insurance programs should pay for contraception for all females. Should the panel's suggestions be accepted, it could mean fewer challenges for financially strapped women in our rocky economy. Personnel loans would not be needed just to keep away from pregnancy.

Part of health care

All women that don't have deductibles or co-payments will be subject to whatever decisions are made for health care the White House will choose as part of the new law, called Obamacare. All suggestions were meant to come from the Institute of Medicine group. This is what the administration asked for.

Will not necessarily happen

The committee suggested that breast pump rentals, domestic violence counseling, wellness exams and HIV tests also be covered by the government on top of the birth control advice. With health costs beyond the reach of many, this suggestion could help ease the financial burden on some women, couples and families in our stagnant economy.

It is not necessarily binding. Still, all recommendations will be seriously considered by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Human Health Services.

Arguable

The suggestions were expected from the committee. Still, it could trigger a lot of controversy. As reported by the Family Research Council, individuals should not be forced with higher insurance premiums to pay for contraception. This is because some people have religious opposition to contraception.

"This is a question of whether the government should mandate every health plan to cover these drugs free of cost," said Family Research Council's Jeanne Monahan. "Whatever one's position is on the issues of contraceptives, abortifacients and such, it does not matter whether proponents of such drugs do not care about the effect on human embryos. The point is that many Americans do care, and many religious health plans would care, and that they should not be forced to violate their conscience."

A women's battle

The recommendations are good for females, as reported by some groups.

"As someone who has worked on women's rights for nearly 30 years, I can say that today's news marks one of the biggest advances for women's health in a generation," said NARAL president Nancy Keenan. "Currently, nearly one in three women finds it difficult to pay for birth control, and that's why the United States has a far higher unintended-pregnancy rate than other industrialized countries. Making family-planning services available at no cost will help millions of women prevent unintended pregnancy and thereby reduce the need for abortion."

Information from

Huffington Post,

Investment Watch,

Think Progress