The Link Between Unintended Pregnancy and Health Insurance

On the news front, according to a study published in the October edition of the Contraception journal, improving access to health insurance could help reduce the risk for unintended pregnancy among vulnerable young women. Researcher Jodi Nearns analyzed data from 1,049 women (aged 18–24 years) who were sexually active and not trying to become pregnant.

Results indicated that only 55% of the women were currently using prescription contraceptives (such as hormonal methods or IUDs). Approximately 20% were currently uninsured, and 30% reported inconsistent health insurance coverage. Additionally, Nearns uncovered that women who had private insurance or Medicaid were significantly more likely than those without health insurance to use prescription birth control.

These results could be due to the notion that although prescription contraceptives are typically more effective than nonprescription methods (like OTC options or behavioral/natural methods), their availability in the US is dependent on health insurance. The message? Nearns suggests that, “access to comprehensive health insurance should be considered one strategy to address the high rates of unintended pregnancy among this vulnerable population.”

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