University of Dayton keeps contraceptive-care package

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The University of Dayton, a Catholic university, says it will continue to offer employee health insurance that covers contraceptive care and isn’t changing the plan because of the fight over a new federal policy on birth control.

The university's insurance plan covers birth-control pills and other contraceptive measures but not abortion or abortion-inducing drugs. Spokeswoman Teri Rizvi tells the Dayton Daily News the coverage at the Marianist school has been in place for two decades and that it chose its plans with workers’ health in mind.

It’s been a hot topic since President Barack Obama tried to get religious-affiliated employers to provide free birth-control coverage to their employees. Facing intense opposition, he recently declared that such coverage would be provided by insurance companies instead.