http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/02/news/economy/notre-dame-birth-control/index.html
I don’t really care what Notre Dame does, but I suspect that this will hurt their ability to continue to attract the non-Catholic professors and students they need to maintain their ranking. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.
This is a change made by the insurer, that the alternative coverage isn’t being continued Why? The costs were being covered
I live in a state where it is covered for everyone. Other states should do that, cover all birth control.
It’s disturbing. I’ve been on BC since early teens because of ovarian cysts. NOW I have to be on BC because my doctor will not prescribe my lupus meds unless I’m on birth control because it will severely deform and likely kill a fetus.
Would I get an exception? Who would I have to convince? What if they said no, am I just SOL?
It’s just so damn frustrating. I am open about my disease but not everyone is. Not everyone wants their employer or whomever to know what type of meds or treatment they’re on.
You can buy generic BC pills for $10/mo at Walmart, about the same as 2 mocha lattes. This is a non-starter and won’t have any affect on anyone, especially highly compensated faculty. Those plans always make exceptions for medically necessary treatments.
But not all women use generic birth control pills. It’s irresponsible to assume that all women can use the over-the-counter birth control found in drug stores.
This decision is so disappointing. I am a senior in high school right now, and Notre Dame is one of the schools I could really see myself at (even though I’m not Catholic). But I don’t think I can apply there anymore, because I so strongly believe that employers should not interfere with personal medical decisions. I was willing to overlook the more Catholic aspects to the university, but this crosses the line.
Can’t use birth control pills.
And I don’t drink lattes- or any drinks like that except for maybe an occasional smoothie- so none to cut out here 
Uh huh. And who am I convincing of that? Who besides my doctor is determining what is medically necessary? I am telling someone about the reason for the contraception… by definition.
ETA: Found the language:
http://hr.nd.edu/benefits/group-insurance/flex-spending/eligible-ineligible-health-care-expenses/
My birth control IS for preventing pregnancy. Now what.
@TooOld4School, not sure what you are smoking, but birth control pills are not available OTC. You need a prescription. If you are getting them for $10/month, it is because you have insurance that is covering the rest of the cost. (But in recent years, the copay has been zero for most insurances after the ACA). If you have to pay full price (let’s say you are lucky enough to work for Hobby Lobby or ND), you will probably pay between $15 and $50/month, depending on what type you get. As stated in post #5, not all women can use generic birth control pills.
I think it will be interesting to see if there is blowback from current staff and students who have gotten used to the open access. And I agree that it just makes it harder to attract qualified female faculty and staff.
There are a few states (OR, CA) where you can buy OTC birth control.
I’d bet my life savings that Indiana isn’t one of them.
@intparent “…it just makes it harder to attract qualified female faculty and staff.”
Yes, I think it is bigger than that. I think it also makes a statement that is alienating to Jews, and atheists. Those are small groups, but they are a high percentage of top research professors, especially scientists. On top of that it will even be viewed negatively by many Catholics.
I doubt that much will change overnight, but it may be impactful over time.
Yet another reason why getting medical insurance through your employer is dumb.
Yes, most female Catholic believe in and use artificial birth control at some point.
Fun fact: the inventor of the pill was Catholic and designed it specifically so it would be acceptable to the Church (or so he thought). He thought it was just a better version than the rhythm method- which was (is?) allowed. John Rock: interesting (but depressing end of) life.
“There are a few states (OR, CA) where you can buy OTC birth control”
In Colorado any pharmacist can write a prescription for BC. And they are free. The state pays, so it’s fine if you work for Hobby Lobby or Notre Dame, you are covered.
Why have the government require employers to provide BC when the state/fed government can just do it directly? No law suits, no exceptions needed. If the government wants everyone to have birth control (and I think it is a great idea) then the government should just pay for it. It already pays for vaccines, emergency care, medicaid, employees’ insurance. BC is cheap.
There are a lot of catholic men who believe in birth control as well.
Employers already do, since they purchase medical insurance for their employees that may create incentives that influence employees’ personal medical decisions. Usually, they are either level of coverage issues, provider network issues, or (for whether a specific thing is covered) relatively obscure things at the margins (though they can be very important for the employees who need those specific things), rather than well known political hot-buttons, and usually they are meant to reduce costs, unlike this case, where lack of contraceptives may result in a larger number of expensive pregnancies.
Very true, @saillakeerie
Your philosophy is so different from theirs that it is unlikely you would find yourself working there. A woman who is employed there and finds herself in your circumstance would probably seek work elsewhere.
As for the university, they don’t give a carp, so their answer to your question would amount to “tough”. Except in this case they would pronounce it “trust”.
“I’d bet my life savings that Indiana isn’t one of them.”
@romanigypsyeyes is winning CC lately!
Yes, me personally, I would never ever work for anything religious.
But I stand in for thousands of other lupus women, not to mention other diseases with similar treatment restrictions.
Neither my old nor current rheumatologist would prescribe the powerful meds I take unless a woman of childbearing age was on birth control.
So yes, we are taking birth control for contraception. To prevent pregnancy. Without it we can either A- have an pretty intentional abortion, B- die from our immune systems killing us, or I guess C- completely refrain from sex even in marriage. None of these are Catholic friendly.
This is my point though. For many women, there is ABSOLUTELY NO LINE between taking contraception for health reasons and for contraception. That’s why arbitrary rules like this are complete BS.
Again “I”/“we” means people like me… not as in me specifically.
I think BC taken because another medication would be dangerous to be pregnant fits into the ‘other reasons’ category. It is amazing what the right medical coding will do for the insurance payments.