A mountain of ramen noodles was meant to catch the attention of students. It represents the 600 a year the average woman will save on birth control with president Obama’s new law. “And that money could go to feeding themselves and their family or just to other necessities,” said Celestine Bidaure, a Women’s Studies major.
But not everyone supported the plan, especially the portion that required catholic employers like hospitals and universities to also provide free contraception.
“I'm opposed to it; I believe our government is inching their way into our lives... There should be a separation between church and state,” said Brenda Augustus, a Fresno resident.
Because of the backlash, President Obama announced a compromise that will not require catholic employers to pay for the birth control. Instead insurance companies will have to foot the bill. The idea is they will save money in the long run, due to fewer costly pregnancies.
St. Agnes medical center in Fresno released a statement that said in part, "We are very pleased with the white house announcement that a resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of catholic institutions..."
But some wonder if the new plan will work. “Every woman should have access to birth control no matter where they work or what institution,” said Pedro Elias, with Planned Parenthood.
“Reproductive health should be about women's individual choices, we're of course not forcing women to take birth control,” said Bidaure.
The change takes effect in august of 2013. Twenty-eight states already required health insurance plans to cover birth control before the federal regulations were issued.
