Katie Couric's Notebook: The Pill

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

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This month marks the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill, a tiny tablet that revolutionized women's health.

But before we break out the cake and streamers, we should remember the pill is still off limits to millions of American women.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, roughly 17.4 million low-income women need publicly-funded contraception but only 9.4 million are receiving it. As many as 8 million lack adequate care.

Planned Parenthood and other groups are trying to address this gap by encouraging the government to define contraception as preventive medicine, so it's covered under health care reform at little or no cost to the patient.

Insurance companies might balk at that idea, but with half of all pregnancies still unplanned, it deserves careful consideration.

After 50 years of safe, effective birth control, it's too easy to overlook those who can't afford it. We've come a long way, baby... but not far enough.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by Pablo_Digame July 13, 2010 7:07 PM EDT: kkroemer,
You are right on with your comments. More than 50 million children have been sacrificed to convenience. The pill had harmed women psychologically, physically, and morally not to mention the destruction it has brought to countless unborn humans. God is involved in the creation of every human life. Abortion and the pill have killed more unborn than the Nazi regime killed.; Reply to this comment


by kkroemer May 17, 2010 3:29 PM EDT: Wow... And now Ms. Couric and the pro-abortionists (Planned Parenthood) are calling babies a "disease" by labelling the Pill "preventive medicine" because it prevents a pregnancy. How heartbreakingly sad. How about promoting abstinence for those who don't want to be a parent? There are no "unwanted babies"; just parents who are unable or unwilling to follow through with the responsibility that comes with their actions. There are still many of us who consider parenthood to be a privilege, not a disease. If you want a choice, choose adoption, not abortion.; Reply to this comment


by casey_abbott May 16, 2010 11:40 AM EDT: Zero defects.; Reply to this comment


by jvellis May 13, 2010 11:48 PM EDT: Dear Katie, Your Notebook segment on The Pill really hit home this evening. I am a Nurse Practitioner at an Illinois County Health Department. The County Board voted this week to discontinue Title X Family Planning services at our Health Department. That now leaves at least 3000 women in our area with a disruption in contraceptive services. What a loss! Hopefully we can find another provider for these services soon. Thank you, Vickie Ellis Nurse Practitioner; Reply to this comment