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.

"We are actually more comfortable having the insurance industry offer and market this to women than religious institutions," said the White House official because they "understand how contraception works" to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce health care costs. "This makes sense financially."

The way it works is this: Insurers will create policy not including contraceptive coverage in the contract for religious organizations that object. Second, the same insurance company must simultaneously offer contraceptive coverage to all employees, and can not charge an additional premium. This provides free contraceptive coverage to women.  The reason this works for insurance companies is because offering contraception is cost-neutral and cost-effective; companies realize the tremendous cost benefits of spacing pregnancies, and limiting unintended pregnancies, planned pregnancies and health benefits of contraception.

White House officials, speaking on background, said that the accommodation--which they stress is not a compromise--fulfills two principals. One is that all women will have access to the health care they need no matter where they work; their access to contraceptive services is guaranteed.  "No longer will they have to struggle to pay for it," said the White House official.  At the same time, "we are able to respect the beliefs of religious institutions."  These are two principals, the official said, "that the White House holds dear."

The rule will be applied to all but the original institutions that were exempted—those for which religious inculcation is their primary purpose—and will not be expanded to include other entities such as hospitals, clinics, or social service organizations.

More here.