Demand all forms of birth control be cost-free

Women use better birth control when they can afford it. That's why all methods should be free. Sign Now Dear friends, The debate around abortion in the United States can get complicated. But the problem comes down to something quite simple: women need ways to avoid unwanted pregnancies. That doesn't just mean access to safe and legal abortion, but also access to affordable birth control to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in the first place. Recent studies show that the biggest barrier to more widespread use of contraceptives is cost. We can't let it remain that way. We need to make all forms of birth control free to any woman who wants contraception. Right now, under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans in the U.S. are required to cover some form of birth control cost-free. But as any woman who's ever taken birth control will tell you, there's no one-size-fits-all contraceptive. While the pill, which is often the cost-free option, may work for some women, others cannot abide by the side effects caused by added hormones. Other women may not have a regular enough schedule to be able to take the pill as prescribed or get regular refills. Luckily, there are more effective methods available with fewer side effects, like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. Unluckily, none of these are universally affordable. In fact, an IUD or implant can cost upwards of a thousand dollars, even with insurance. That puts these methods out of reach for millions of women. Your finances shouldn't determine your level of reproductive autonomy. Every women should be able to choose the contraception method that works best for their body, not what works best for insurance executives' pockets. Sign the petition to demand that every health insurance company in the U.S. cover all forms of birth control, cost-free, for all women. Thank you,   Emily V. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. We should trust women and their doctors — not the balance sheets of insurance companies — to choose what birth control works best for their bodies. Sign now to demand free and accessible contraception.