It's about time women gain control over their own bodies and their reproductive rights.

It's about time health insurance companies that cover prescription costs also pay for prescribed forms of birth control.

Two female state representatives in Pennsylvania proposed a bill that stated just that. The proposed bill would cover birth control methods including oral contraceptives, Depo-Provera, intrauterine devices, diaphragms and Norplant.

The intent of the bill is to end discrimination against women by health insurance companies, lessen unintended pregnancies and give attention to women's health issues, which have been sometimes ignored and not given nearly as much attention as men's health issues.

For example, the new drug Viagra, used by men to combat impotency, is covered by many health insurance companies, but birth control for women is not. What kind of message does that send? Insurance companies are more concerned with men's sexual needs than women's needs to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Aside from bringing much-needed attention to women's health, if health insurance companies paid for birth control there is chance more teen-agers would use it. Informing girls about birth control and the dangers of getting pregnant is worthless if they can't afford to pay for birth control.

This country has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. More than four out of 10 teen-agers become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 -- or nearly one million a year. Those statistics are ridiculous.

If the cost of birth control were diminished, maybe more teen-age girls would use it. And if it prevented one unwanted pregnancy, wouldn't it be worth it? Cost should not be a deterrent to using birth control.

Of course, the opposition consists of insurance companies that do not want to foot the extra costs. Cost should not be an issue when dealing with the issue of birth control and unwanted pregnancies.

Women have come a long way in terms of equality, but women's health is one area that is still dragging behind the times.