<p>How do students on Catholic campuses get assistance with birth control? All the recent talk in the news has stirred up my curiosity. Free/low cost exams, prescriptions, etc seem to be readily available at most secular schools. Do private agencies set up shop near campus? Do students simply seek private health care (assuming it is affordable)? What are the options at schools such as Georgetown, Notre Dame, Sienna, BC, Holy Cross, Villanova, to name a few?</p>
<p>That’s where Planned Parenthood comes in. I most cities, there is likely one near college campuses.</p>
<p>Although I have a son, I do remember noting at one of the Catholic colleges he was looking at stating on their health care site that they do not provide birth control as part of their services. They were not just talking about abortions. They would not provide prescriptions for birth control pills. I highly doubt they distributed condoms, either. Although I went to a secular college, I do remember that there was an abortion clinic across the street from campus. Unfortunately, one of my floormates had to make use of their services. Female students could go to the health center on campus and not only get a prescription for birth control pills, but also, got that prescription filled. This was in the early 80s, in the time before AIDS, so not many people used condoms, as young people back then didn’t think about such things as venereal disease, but they did think plenty about avoiding pregnancy.</p>
<p>Why does it have to be something that is given ON campus. Most towns have some kind of medical clinic/office/hospital whatever where students can get birth control. Also, if you are that worried about it, have your DD get a the implants or shots before they go to school. Every drug store/grocery store sells condoms. People are really making a big issue out of nothing…</p>
<p>I agree mncollegemom.</p>
<p>I wonder if pharmacies at Catholic-sponsored hospitals ever fill prescriptions for birth control pills. I’m not interested, just curious.</p>
<p>mn, some towns do not have easy transportation on/off campus. It’s not always that simple to go to the local cvs or whatnot in order to get a prescription filled or written. </p>
<p>As for Planned Parenthood, it can be very, very expensive if your insurance doesn’t accept them. Financial aid counts as part of your income and last time I went to Planned Parenthood, it was going to cost me over $80 for an exam and prescription. That didn’t even cover the pills! </p>
<p>I’m not saying that it’s right or wrong that Catholic Us don’t give out contraception but I don’t like the myth that it’s always easy to just go off campus or go to PP and whatnot. It’s simply not always true.</p>
<p>I delivered a baby at a Catholic sponsored hospital. Doctors were not allowed to “bill” for sterilizations done at the hospital. They put them under other categories–not exactly sure what. In my case it would have been part of my C-Section if I had done that there. That doesn’t mean that the procedures do not happen though. I don’t know about the prescription filling though. I do have to say that while the Church’s stance is against birth control, very few Catholics actually follow that…</p>
<p>On many campuses it’s called ‘Student Health Services’. Seems to me, contraception should be part of basic health care. </p>
<p>Something else to think about, should my DD choose to attend one of the many Catholic schools.</p>
<p>Fortunately I have a son at Villanova (and he obtains his method of birth control from Amazon on his Student Prime account :rolleyes:), but here is their official policy:</p>
<p>Women’s Health</p>
<p>*The nurse practitioners at the Student Health Center provide women’s health services such as annual gynecologic exams, evaluation and treatment of infection, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and pregnancy testing. Services are available by appointment</p>
<p>Monday – Friday. Examinations are free of charge, though any laboratory testing or prescribed medications are the financial responsibility of the student.</p>
<p>In order to allow adequate time to your appointment, please indicate the nature of the appointment reason when speaking with the Student Health Center staff. Women’s health appointments can be made by calling the Student Health Center at 610-519-4070.</p>
<p>Because of the values of Villanova University as a Catholic, Augustinian school, the Student Health Center, as a matter of policy, does not provide materials on preventing conception or that encourage termination of pregnancy.*</p>
<p>^^But that policy must change according to the latest HHS pronouncements. </p>
<p>Boston College (a Jesuit University), recently notified it’s student community that the HHS has directed its Student Health Center to start providing birth control…they expect to start by summer.</p>
<p>But to respond to the OP: CVS, Walgreen’s, Target, etc.</p>
<p>
They have mailboxes though so there’s no reason the prescription couldn’t be one fulfilled by mail which is usually less expensive anyway.</p>
<p>And how far by foot or bus would a drugstore (CVS, Rite-Aid, a pharmacy in a grocery store etc.) typically be from a campus anyway? I suppose there may be some corner cases but I’d expect it’s not an arduous feat for most students.</p>
<p>It makes sense for a Catholic facility to not offer it if it’s contrary to their beliefs. I assume most people attending one would realize it up front and make other accommodations if they want.</p>
<p>“I wonder if pharmacies at Catholic-sponsored hospitals ever fill prescriptions for birth control pills. I’m not interested, just curious.”</p>
<p>Don’t know. In 28 states, insurance provided by Catholic institutions (not churches themselves) must include contraception as part of preventive care to their employees. In some of those states. churches must provide it for their employees as well. It is settled law, in states from Arizona to North Carolina.</p>
<p>"^^But that policy must change according to the latest HHS pronouncements."</p>
<p>No, the campus policy does not have to change according to HHS pronouncements. HHS was simply following practices already adopted in 28 states, though providing an exemption for churches themselves. However, the HHS ruling is about insurance coverage, not about who has to provide the actual stuff.</p>
<p>“Boston College (a Jesuit University), recently notified it’s student community that the HHS has directed its Student Health Center to start providing birth control…they expect to start by summer.”</p>
<p>I doubt that greatly - do you have a citation? (The only way that I know of this could happen is if the Health Center was the only source of health care, etc. for their EMPLOYEES.) But I could be proven wrong (wouldn’t be the first time.)</p>
<p>Beil1958-you would seriously not want your DD going to a school based only on the availability of contraception. Glad brings up a very good point–you probably have a mail order pharmacy option with your medical insurance company, set her up on mail-order, automatic renewal and problem solved. For boys, the Amazon Prime option sounds like a winner to me.</p>
<p>As a Catholic, I strongly opposed to the government dictating birth control policy. </p>
<p>As a mom of an adult female, I had her question our peditrician about birth control. She was told that the campus will provide, if need be, since she is not attending a Catholic college. My dd has not even dated yet but I wanted her to make sure she had a grip on birth control before the need arose. Many Catholics are pro-life and would rather our children practice both safe sex and birth control. I feel you are going to sin anyway then you better make sure you not making it worse.</p>
<p>Understood. Are you in one of the 28 states where the government already dictates it? (and in some states, much more strictly that the HHS rule?)</p>
<p>And to be clear, in no case has the government “dictated birth control policy”. In all cases (even in those states where there is no exemption for church employees), the policies provide for insurance coverage of preventive services, not that anyone has to use them.</p>
<p>And as noted, many Catholics are prolife, and the 22% of the population in this country that is Catholic accounts for 31% of all abortions (so I think more birth control would be a good thing, though always a matter of individual choice.)</p>
<p>DD attended a Catholic college (Jesuit). NO birth control was prescribed or dispensed on campus. DD dealt with those issues with her primary care doctor HERE…not there.</p>
<p>A bit off-topic from my original premise, but I value this opportunity to seek information.</p>
<p>Momof3, I totally respect your views as a Catholic and would never want to step on your toes with regard to your faith. Perhaps you can help me understand the controversy; with all due respect. Seriously.</p>
<p>For discussion sake, let’s say I’m a male professor at a Catholic uni and have made the decision to have a vasectomy. Because of the values of my employer, I am unable to have this elective surgical procedure covered by my insurance. (Under the new HHS policy, it would be covered.) I hear people saying they would oppose government dictating birth control policy, but what about in this case? Seems to me the employer is dictating their beliefs to somebody who is of a different religious faith. Again, not judging; just asking.</p>
<p>You knew it when you were hired.</p>
<p>Many years ago, I had a friend that got a new job as a secretary at the company that makes Orange Crush. She started eating in their cafeteria, bringing Diet Pepsi with her lunch from home. Other employees gave her looks. She didn’t have that job for long.</p>
<p>How can government at a state level not have a legitimate interest in what the state’s regualted insurance industry has to cover?</p>