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Udall: Problems with Gardner’s birth control plan

By WTOP Staff

NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Democratic Sen. Mark Udall expressed skepticism Friday about his challenger’s proposal to allow birth control pills to be sold without a prescription, as contraception issues continued to dominate the competitive contest.

Udall made the remarks in response to a question at a news conference to highlight his latest foray into the volatile politics of birth control. He has co-authored a bill to reverse last week’s Supreme Court decision that allows closely held companies with religious objections to provide employee health insurance that doesn’t cover all forms of contraception.

Udall said Republican Rep. Cory Gardner’s idea for over-the-counter sales of oral contraceptives “has some merit” but “isn’t necessarily the way to go.”

“I believe it would put more barriers to women’s health and contraception,” Udall said, noting that under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul, birth control is free for consumers, so costs would rise if oral contraceptives were available over-the-counter at retail prices.

Gardner’s campaign reacted with disbelief, noting that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had also proposed making birth control pills available without a prescription. Spokesman Alex Siciliano said Udall’s reaction “shows he is more concerned with his own political health than women’s health.”

Udall has cast himself as a champion of women’s rights and rebuked Gardner for backing a measure to grant legal rights to a fertilized egg, which some argued could ban popular forms of contraception. Gardner, who has disavowed at least one of those proposals, last month countered with his proposal on birth control pills.

Udall wasn’t alone in raising concerns about possible cost increases under Gardner’s plan. Reproductive rights proponents also warned that women could pay more for retail birth control than forms prescribed by a physician.

“It masquerades as a solution, but it is not one,” said Vicki Cowart, president of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Indeed, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does recommend some over-the-counter forms of birth control, including oral contraceptives, it also warns that the approach could increase the cost and must be coupled with no-cost contraception through insurance coverage.

At the news conference, Udall and the reproductive rights groups decried the politicization of birth control.

“Access to reproductive services and planning is not a political issue,” Udall said. “It is a health and economic issue.”

Siciliano said Udall’s coolness to Gardner’s proposal contradicts that.

“We can only conclude that Mark Udall is desperate to keep this as a political issue instead of solving the problem,” he said.

___

Follow Nicholas Riccardi at https://twitter.com/NickRiccardi .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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