Georgetown: We’re not changing birth control coverage policy

As I noted on March 4, Sandra Fluke mentioned in her own testimony that Georgetown University does provide coverage for students who need prescriptions – including birth control – for health reasons unrelated to birth control. Georgetown confirmed that position this week.

Of course, since the fact that Georgetown did cover prescriptions for health-related issues did not fit the narrative liberals, Democrats and the main stream media was looking for, it was ignored. Nobody in the media followed up with Fluke concerning her “friends” who were supposedly denied coverage for health issues that could be treated with birth control. Fluke mentioned

For my friend, and 20% of women in her situation, she never got the insurance company to cover her prescription, despite verification of her illness from her doctor. Her claim was denied repeatedly on the assumption that she really wanted the birth control to prevent pregnancy.

This is and continues to be a First Amendment issue, and has nothing to do with contraception or a “war on women.”

Georgetown’s president clearly states (below) that the university covers prescriptions for students “who require them for health reasons unrelated to birth control, as determined by a physician”. Steve Gilbert at Sweetness & Light notes that line – politely – calls Fluke a liar. Still waiting for the media to look into that, but I’m not holding my breath.

John J. DeGioia, president of Georgetown University writes in an email to the community…

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

I write to you regarding Georgetown’s health insurance and contraceptive coverage in our plans.  Many members of our community have expressed different perspectives on this issue.  I am grateful for the respectful ways in which you have shared your opinions.

As you know, like most universities, Georgetown requires that students have health insurance. Students are not required to purchase their health insurance through Georgetown University and are free to acquire health insurance through a third party. The student plan offered by Georgetown is consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit identity and does not cover prescription contraceptives for birth control.  It does provide coverage for these prescriptions for students who require them for health reasons unrelated to birth control, as determined by a physician.

After thoughtful and careful consideration, we will continue our current practice for contraceptive coverage in our student health insurance for the coming year, as allowed for under the current rules issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

There will also be no change to the University’s approach to contraceptive coverage for employees for 2013.

We will be monitoring further regulatory and judicial developments related to the Affordable Care Act. I hope this is helpful in clarifying a matter of concern to many of you.

You have my very best wishes as we conclude our academic year.

Sincerely,
John J. DeGioia

Posted in ,

Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

6 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on April 27, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    The act of not getting what you pretend to want through public hystrionics and lying to Congress will now be called “getting Fluked”.
    ?
    Makes you just want to mail Ms. Fluke a condom, doesn’t it?



  2. Tim-in-Alabama on April 27, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    Should you really call the Fluke’s show “testimony?” She was not part of the actual hearing. She was the dog and pony show for the Democrat women’s faux hearing which followed.



  3. Kelly on April 27, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    In the words of the Great Rush Limbaugh “RIGHT ON!? RIGHT ON!”
    ?



    • johnboy111 on April 28, 2012 at 7:38 pm

      to bad she is not spanish…with a little spanish lingo thrown in????



  4. JBS on April 28, 2012 at 8:36 am

    So, more political theater and demagoguery designed by the Democrats as a distraction from Obama’s failure as a president.
    Fluke lied to Congress and the American people? I’m shocked!



  5. Shared Sacrifice on April 28, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Georgetown may provide coverage, but can we expect a student like Fluke to pay for it herself?? Surely, she’s got a tight budget with competing expenses; like spring break excursions, adult beverages, an i-phone, party clothes, professional literature expenses (ie “Bitch Magazine”- a genuine feminist publication BTW)…?? And do we have a fair, open-minded and tolerant society if Rush and Jim are held to different standards than feminists and gangsta rappers?? It’s only entertainment- right?



square-sandra-fluke

The website's content and articles were migrated to a new framework in October 2023. You may see [shortcodes in brackets] that do not make any sense. Please ignore that stuff. We may fix it at some point, but we do not have the time now.

You'll also note comments migrated over may have misplaced question marks and missing spaces. All comments were migrated, but trackbacks may not show.

The site is not broken.