Essay Undergraduate 769 words

Contraceptives and the Health Coverage Debate

~4 min read 5 sections Health · Birth Control

Abstract

This paper examines the ongoing debate over who should bear the cost of contraceptive coverage in the United States. Drawing on public health data, it highlights the scale of teen pregnancy — 273,105 births to teenagers aged 15–19 in 2013 — alongside the economic reality that unintended pregnancies cost the U.S. $5 billion in direct medical expenses in 2002, while contraception saved an estimated $19.3 billion that same year. The paper argues that all health plans should be mandated to include contraception as a no-cost preventive service, addresses the objections raised by religious and nonprofit employers, and underscores the multi-generational social consequences of teen pregnancy, including school dropout rates and intergenerational poverty.

Key Takeaways

Introduction: The Scope of the Problem: Teen pregnancy statistics frame the policy question
The Economic Case for Contraceptive Coverage: Cost-benefit data support mandating contraceptive coverage
Religious and Employer Objections: Faith-based employer objections and counterarguments
Broader Social Consequences of Teen Pregnancy: Multi-generational effects of unaddressed teen pregnancy
Conclusion: Call for urgent, universal contraceptive coverage policy

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What makes this paper effective

Opens with concrete, current statistics (273,105 teen births in 2013; 26.5 per 1,000 live births) that immediately ground the argument in measurable reality.
Uses a cost-comparison strategy — $5 billion in direct medical costs versus $19.3 billion in savings from contraception — to build a straightforward economic argument that is difficult to dismiss.
Acknowledges the opposing viewpoint (religious and nonprofit employer objections) before rebutting it, demonstrating awareness of counterarguments.
Extends the argument beyond the individual to multi-generational consequences, strengthening the case for policy intervention.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper uses a cost-benefit framing to move the contraception debate from a purely moral or ideological plane onto economic and public health grounds. By pairing statistics from government agencies (CDC, HHS) with economic data from peer sources, the author builds a policy argument that draws on multiple evidence types rather than relying on a single line of reasoning.

Structure breakdown

The paper is organized into four substantive sections. The introduction establishes the problem with demographic data and frames the central policy question. The second section presents the economic rationale for mandated coverage. The third section addresses religious employer objections and argues for a uniform legal standard. The final section broadens the argument to long-term social consequences across generations, ending with a call for urgent action. References are formatted in APA style.

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Essay 769 words

Introduction: The Scope of the Problem

The debate over who should cover the cost of contraception is alive in contemporary society and equally contentious among different groups, depending on religious persuasion, philosophical inclination, or social upbringing. There are, however, baseline facts that must be understood before engaging with ideological positions. Teen pregnancy in the United States stood at 273,105 births in 2013, with those births occurring to teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. This figure accounts for 26.5 per 1,000 live births. Although this represented a record low compared to 2012 statistics — which were approximately 10% higher — the numbers remain high, and the effects of teen pregnancy are palpable within local communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015).

The consequences include deaths due to attempted abortions, complications following abortions, wide-ranging social impacts, and dashed dreams as teenagers transition abruptly into parenthood. Such realities raise urgent questions about who should bear responsibility for the cost of contraception. These staggering statistics — and the recognition that real lives stand behind them — make this issue both timely and relevant in a society that grapples not only with the economic burden of maternity-related costs, but also with the social challenges of teen parenthood, reduced employability during pregnancy, and the economic distress that forces struggling young people to work multiple jobs to stay afloat. An unplanned pregnancy is the last thing a struggling young person needs, which is why a serious discussion about financing and access to contraception is long overdue.

The Economic Case for Contraceptive Coverage

A 2001 survey found that 49% of pregnancies in the United States were unintended, with the majority occurring among teenage girls. By 2002, the direct medical cost of unintended pregnancies had reached $5 billion, while cost savings attributable to contraception in that same year were estimated at $19.3 billion (Park, 2011). This comparison makes clear that contraception is not only the more economical option — it is also a necessary component of women's preventive healthcare that should be included in health coverage at no additional cost to the patient. The government should mandate every health plan to include contraception as a preventive health benefit, which would ultimately reduce teen pregnancy rates and lower the costs associated with unplanned pregnancies once they occur.

2 Sections Hidden · 220 words

Religious and Employer Objections100 words

The challenge often comes from religious and nonprofit organizations that argue their faith and beliefs do not permit the use of contraception methods (Andrews, 2014). There is a need for a coherent and uniform law that…

Broader Social Consequences of Teen Pregnancy120 words

The compulsory funding of contraception programs is a matter requiring urgent attention, as the consequences extend far beyond the individual. The costs — financial and social — are immense both for…

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Conclusion

The evidence is clear: mandating comprehensive contraceptive coverage in all health plans is a sound public health and economic policy. The human and financial costs of inaction — measured in unintended pregnancies, school dropouts, health complications, and lost economic productivity — far outweigh the cost of providing contraceptive services as a standard preventive benefit. Policymakers, employers, and health plan administrators must act decisively to make contraception universally accessible and affordable.

References

Andrews, M. (2014). Most employers see a benefit in covering contraceptives. NPR Health Shots.

CDC. (2015). About teen pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Park, M. (2011). Birth control should be fully covered under health plans, report says. CNN Health.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Trends in teen pregnancy and childbearing. Office of Adolescent Health. http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/trends.html

Key Concepts in This Paper

Teen Pregnancy Contraceptive Coverage Health Insurance Mandate Preventive Care Unintended Pregnancy Employer Objections Reproductive Health Cost-Benefit Analysis School Dropout Rates Public Health Policy