Flordia Republican Senator Marco Rubio has filed a bill to limit medical care for women. (Post-Dispatch Monday, Feb. 6, page A9 ) Rubio would stop federal law from requiring employers who offer medical insurance to include contraceptives and family planning services without copayments. Copayments for monthly refills of prescription oral contraceptives can be expensive. Family planning and contraception are forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church, Rubio's faith and the faith of millions of Americans. Twenty Republicans co-signed Rubio's proposed legislation.

 

Rubio claims that the current federal law forces Catholic organizations to violate the faith's ban on contraception/family planning or else deprive employees of the benefit of medical insurance. There is an alternative.

 

Perhaps faith-based employers should get out of the insurance business and stick to doctrine and mission. Simply compute the dollar value of medical insurance for each employee and give them the money to patronize the insurance plan of their choice. The employee's privacy as a patient would be enhanced because her faith-based bosses would never have to know her choice of insurance plans and her choice of how to use them. Or any other health choice she might make.

Casey Croy

St. Louis