In January, the Obama administration ruled that new health care laws require all employers’ insurance to cover birth control pills and other contraceptives. This has caused recent uproar at Jesuit universities such as Georgetown and Fordham, because offering contraceptives to employees goes against Catholic teaching.

According to a recent New York Times article, this health care ruling could also affect students at various Jesuit and Catholic universities who are currently denied birth control prescriptions from their health services on-campus.

There is a fine line between respecting the teachings of the Catholic Church and respecting women’s health care rights. Denying coverage to medication that could help women’s health can have serious consequences.

For instance, the New York Times article reported the case of a graduate student at Georgetown with polycystic ovary syndrome who was prescribed birth control pills for that condition. The university does not cover the pills for students under any circumstance, and while she continued to appeal for the prescription coverage, she developed an ovarian cyst that eventually had to be removed — along with her ovary.

We are not suggesting that every – or even many – women who want birth control have serious conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome; however, the graduate student’s case is an example for students and their Jesuit institutions to consider.

It is no secret to Marquette students and faculty that Jesuit institutions do not prescribe birth control. In fact, it is one of the frequently asked questions on Student Health Service’s website. SHS cannot prescribe birth control, but they can discuss it with patients. According to their website: “Recognizing that oral contraceptives are prescribed for particular medical conditions, it is advisable that these matters be discussed individually with a provider at the student health service.”

But while Marquette may not be able to prescribe students or employees birth control, both student and employee
insurance benefits can cover contraceptives to a degree. We believe such allowances are in the best interests of the women.

According to the student brochure for Wisconsin Physicians Service health insurance, the plan covers prescription drugs, including prescription birth control, with patient co-payments and some restrictions. Similarly, the university’s Health Benefit Summary Plan Description lists “contraceptives” under covered benefits, subject to regular co-payments and in-network prescription.

While Marquette may not be able to prescribe birth control, women’s health issues and reasons other than contraception are considered for students and employees through insurance plans, and we commend the university for taking that step.

As students of a Jesuit institution, we respect the views of the Catholic Church. However, we also believe that health services should comply with the new healthcare plan and eliminate co-payments. Women take birth control pills for a myriad of health reasons, only one potential reason being to prevent pregnancy. Forcing women to pay for this medication out-of-pocket may deter them from filling the prescription in the first place.

By allowing Student Health Service to recommend prescriptions to be filled elsewhere, Marquette could comply with Jesuit principles while still keeping women’s health issues in mind. Continuing to encourage students to buy student health insurance plans if they are not covered under a guardian’s plan allows women other methods of getting contraception if needed.

Marquette is a Catholic, Jesuit institution, but not all students are Catholic. Students do choose to attend Marquette and inherently to comply with any teachings of Catholicism, including birth control. But that does not mean Marquette should ignore women’s health needs regarding birth control.