Planned Parenthood Action Fund Launches TV Ad Applauding Obama Administration

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund today launched a new TV spot called “Basic Health Care,” applauding the Obama administration for protecting access to affordable birth control. 

The 30-second TV ad highlights how birth control not only helps women plan their families, it helps prevent ovarian cancer and treat endometriosis.

“It’s important for women across the country to know about the new birth control coverage benefit,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “This new benefit means that millions of women, who would otherwise pay $15 to $50 a month, will have access to affordable birth control, helping them save hundreds of dollars each year.”

The ad urges the public to express thanks to the Obama administration for ensuring access to affordable birth control for all women—regardless of their employer.

The TV ad will air on broadcast networks in eight key media markets across the country:

West Palm Beach, Florida

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Lansing, Michigan

Reno, Nevada

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Toledo, Ohio

Charlottesville, Virginia

Madison, Wisconsin

 

View the ad HERE (script below).

The TV ad is airing just weeks after the United States Department of Health and Human Services announced a decision to ensure access to affordable birth control, including access for women who are employed by a religiously affiliated hospital, university, or other religiously affiliated organization that serves the broader public. Specifically, HHS will not further expand the refusal provision to the birth control coverage benefit under the Affordable Care Act. 

 The birth control coverage benefit underscores the fact that birth control use is nearly universal in the United States, even among Catholic women. According to Guttmacher, 99% of all sexually experienced women and 98% of sexually experienced Catholic women will have used birth control at some point in their lives.

 In fact, according to NPR, many religiously affiliated hospitals and universities currently provide birth control coverage to their employees.

 The birth control coverage benefit is also one of the most popular provisions in the Affordable Care Act, even among Catholics, whose bishops oppose birth control. According to a Hart Research poll, 71 percent of American voters, including 77 percent of Catholic women voters, support the benefit that health plans cover prescription birth control at no cost. And a May 2011Thomson Reuters-NPR Health poll found that 77 percent of Americans believe that private medical insurance should provide no-cost birth control.

 Planned Parenthood believes all women, regardless of their employer, should be able to access the birth control coverage benefit. Planned Parenthood respects religious freedom and believes that neither government nor employers should intrude on individuals’ ability to practice their own religions or faiths, including their personal decisions about health care.

Ad Script: 

“Birth control.  It helps millions plan our families.

“But for thousands of women it’s meant more.

“Preventing ovarian cancer and the pain and infertility of endometriosis.

“President Obama and Secretary Sebelius stood strong to make sure all women — no matter where they work — will have access to birth control without a co-pay, saving them hundreds of dollars.

“Thank President Obama and Secretary Sebelius. 

“Tell them to keep protecting the birth control women count on.

“Planned Parenthood Action Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.”