Free contraception for women goes into effect Aug. 1st

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - As of Wednesday, women are able to receive free contraceptive from their health insurance.

""For those it does affect, certainly having a more affordable option for woman. We may see better compliance," said Ann Baker with Women's Health Advantage.

She believes with this new mandate, women will be able to affordable contraceptive, especially with no co-pay. Baker said it will also help women stay on the same contraceptive instead of buying a cheap alternative, which she said could have side effects if a woman makes that switch. Baker said all this won't be available to women right away.

"Insurance companies don't have to follow the new plan until their plans renew for the next year, so some people, maybe a year from now before they actually realize this benefit," she said.

The Catholics are not seeing any benefits in this new law. They're still moving forward with a lawsuit against the Human Services Administration, despite the Obama Administration's compromise to give Diocese and House of worship members a year before complying. Sean McBride, Director of Communication for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, said this is more than birth control.

"A lot of them said about the quote on quote, war on women, which clearly is not. This is a first amendment issue," he said.

McBride said the levy for this could be costly, $100 per employee, he said.

Insurances companies will eliminate the co-pay for contraceptives when an person's new insurance policy starts, but some of them will implement the law early.

For more information on how this will affect your insurance, contact your provider.