sexartandpolitics:

bthny:

Today, the White House did the right thing for women, public health and human rights.  Despite deep concerns, including my own, based on what transpired in the past under health reform, the White House has decided on a plan to address the birth control mandate that will enable women to get contraceptive coverage directly through their insurance plans without having to buy a rider or a second plan, and without having to negotiate with or through religious entities or administrations that are hostile to primary reproductive health care, including but not limited to contraception.

Under this plan, every insurance company will be obligated to provide contraceptive coverage. Administration officials stated that a woman’s insurance company “will be required to reach out directly and offer her contraceptive care free of charge.  The religious institutions will not have to pay for it.”

Moreover, women will not have to opt in or out; contraceptive care will be part of the basic package of benefits offered to everyone. Contraceptive care will simply be “part of the bundle of services that all insurance companies are required to offer,” said a White House official.

This is great news.

O…. kay. So… catholic hospitals will be required to offer insurance under PPACA. The insurance they offer won’t have contraceptive coverage. However, the insurer must offer the insured contraceptive coverage free of charge. The insurance companies won’t be increasing premiums charged to the catholic hospitals and their employees because contraception saves money. Thus the contraception is free (as in beer).

So the shell game is that because the contraception is free, the catholic hospitals won’t be “paying” for it.

Am I understanding this correctly?

this is confusing…