Thanks to the Affordable Care Act put in place by former President Barack Obama, most American women have had free access to birth control regardless of whether or not they were part of an Obamacare policy. That’s all changing, however, under Donald Trump, who’s vowed to repeal the ACA, leaving millions without access to birth control. What’s a girl to do? Demand an IUD while you still can, apparently.
CNN reports that the demand for IUDs — intrauterine devices that prevent pregnancy for anywhere from seven to 10 years — has soared. By how much, you ask? More than 900 percent, according to Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. The devices, which costs roughly $1,000 and is currently covered by many insurance plans, will last long enough to survive the Trump presidency.
While several of the women interviewed by CNN admitted that they didn’t want an IUD, they felt forced to have one out of fear of losing access to birth control. It remains unclear just how far the repeals on the Affordable Care Act will go in terms of affordable birth control, given the administration’s attitudes towards women’s health issues and the organizations which exist to aid in this arena, it’s hard to be hopeful. This is especially true given that Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, Rep. Tom Price, has publicly stated that
This is especially true given that Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, Rep. Tom Price, has publicly stated that he believes birth control is women’s responsibility and that we should be the ones shouldering the cost for it. For over five years, he’s been voting against measures to help provide birth control for low-income women, so it’s doubtful he’ll be hanging his policies as part of this administration. It’s infuriating and more than that, it’s frightening and downright dangerous. Women need access to birth control and it seems like we’ll have to go to great lengths to get it for the next four years.
