I'm a little bit confused. Kathleen Sebelius says free contraceptives is a cost-reducer.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

15. OK- Here's why it's a cost reducer

Let's assume that no insurance plan is paying for abortions-

Many if not most of us were accidents. That is to say most pregnancies are the result of couples getting jiggy with it as opposed to intentionally trying to get pregnant. You can't get away with not covering pregnancy on company health plans- whether it's the employee or the employee's spouse getting pregnant. The cost of a little contraception vs the cost of pregnancy? Huge. And let's not forget about paid maternity leave. OK- you probably don't get that at McDonald's, but at the very least they can't fire you while you're away having your baby. But any non-wage slave job is going to pay you at least a partial salary while you're out not producing anything for them. And they'll most liely have to hire a temp to cover for you during the six weeks or so that you're out. I've even worked at places where fathers get a few weeks off for a new baby.

So if you can reduce the number of unplanned but not-unwelcome pregnancies by handing out a few pills & condoms, it does save money, both for the employer and the insurance company.

Edited to add: Hmm- looking back at the thread I see Tsiyu made pretty much the same point. I'd have to say the reason corporations overlooked all of this is PR. Look at the stink right wingers are making over this. They probably wanted to avoid the shitstorm.