Birth Control Pills and Health Insurance!

This past week the Oregon State Legislature failed to pass a bill which would require health insurance companies to foot the bill for Birth Control Pills. Do you believe in such a mandate on insurures?

Maybe its because I'm a guy? But I thought health insurance was to cover medical problems/emergencies? I realize there can be tons of complications brought on by pregnancy. I'm sure there would be certain cases in which a person would be in jeopardy 'health wise' if they became pregnant. And could very much see a doctor prescribing 'the pill' in those cases.

But for a woman to just go to her health care provider and say I'd like birth control because I don't want to become pregnant. Well lets see...its not a work related accident, (not gonna go there:p ) not an illness, not a needed medicine (other than those I stated above) So it would only be an added cost to the insurance companies.

I do know that here in Pennsylvania there are alot of family planning type organizations that will either cover or help pay the costs of birth control. So to me it seems to make sense about Oregon's Legislature failing to pass the bill.

Don

Why should insurance be forced to do the right thing??? Shouldnt they be 'forced' to offer coverage...to anyone...no matter their race, color, creed???

It is not only the right thing, but it is the most economic thing to do. What is the cost of an unwanted pregnancy on society compared to the cost of the pill???? Dont even bother to reply...if you can't see this...your reply is a waste...

The IrishKid....with his Irish up!

Yeah, why should men be insured erections? i think birth control pills should be covered too...and also, some women go on the pill for other reasons other than the prevention of pregnancy....my sister is on them to regulate her menstruel cycle because it is irregular.

i think because erections and pregnacy are both health related issues, they should both be covered.

Yeah. Whenever I hear "it's a man's world," I want to spit, but as far as insurance companies and government go....hmmm, let's see....we should almost universally cover VIAGRA, because why? If an erection is a naturally occuring thing, then isn't it just as natural for men to accept that it will stop at a certain age too??? Menopause is perfectly natural as well...maybe the loss of virility should be viewed like the end of the menses for a woman. Fair's fair, right? I mean, if we're talking nature, then what the hell....disease and injury are natural occurences too, last time I checked- so why cover any form of MEDICINE?!?!? I mean, if we're going to be so Darwinist in our perspectives here, let the weak die! Let the sick suffer! Let the boners wilt and the sex drives wither! To do anything else would be interference of a NATURALLY OCCURING STATE!

So, if you shouldn't be able to say "I don't want to become pregnant," what on earth gives you the right to say "I want to become hard?" Let Mother Nature have her handiwork, I say! Down with this abysmal 'Modern Science'!

Why should the individual be able to choose what happens to their bodies? We are but mere animals, slave to Nature.

O how grateful am I to live in a country so concerned with preserving the "natural" state of things. Gag me with a speculum.

I just spent the evening with Datura, and she is one of those moods guys, I didn't say gals because these moods won't affect them. SO BEWARE:p But I wiill say this about health care and the birth control, yes they should cover this, in Minnesota they do, but it was only about 7-8 years ago that they started to cover the pill and other forms of birth control, Datura made a good point about viagra, which insurance covers here also, and no I'm not speaking from experience:p but it's not exactly some major emergency that a man has to sport wood, although Datura might differ on her views if I was no longer able to work the wang-dang-doodle because nature wanted it that way, but than again the mood she's in tonight she would tell me that, thats why they make strap-ons. Just curious if they cover viagra in your state, and not birth control such as the pill?

If I'm just in one of my "moods" again....(what's your excuse?) then perhaps I shall just throw out my pills and let nature take over. Hmmm? :confused:

LOL - you two...tisk tisk tisk :p

Anywho, I feel that pills should be covered. I myself go to Planned Parenthood and make a donation for the pills. Mainly because my insurance doesn't cover birth control pills and the cost of the keeps increasing! I have to agree with Irish:

It is not only the right thing, but it is the most economic thing to do. What is the cost of an unwanted pregnancy on society compared to the cost of the pill????

Women who don't bother to put themselves on the pill and don't respect their bodies enough to be careful really harms our economy more than most people start to think about. If she decides to keep it, what's to keep her from going on welfare? If she puts it up for adoption and it doesn't get adopted right away...guess who pays for that child...we do! I would much rather have someone bring a life into this world on good terms. There are too many people who have unwanted pregnancies and it becomes a burden on us....

As for Viagra....yeah...won't go there.

I do not think Viagra should be covered in the same type of cases. And I did not feel My reasoning was that far fetched. So LadyInWaiting your darn tootin I don't see a need for that, In fact I honestly can't even see some weird case where the man would need viagra or face serious health issues either. At least with the pill theres a need many times.

I never said in any way that I think viagra SHOULD be covered!

As for clamping legs together ......more power to you for that..lol
I agree very much that it is a consentual thing not a one sided thing (both the mans and the womans responsibility) to avoid pregnancy. If 2 people want to have sex and not have children then they need to both prepare for that.

I'm sure that the man can buy condoms, And am I mistaken? or isn't there a male birth control out now? Let the guy foot the bill.

My statement about 'family planning' in other states seems to have been avoided. Is this only in Pennsylvana?

Any woman at any age can go there anonymously and get birth control. My point was that it CAN BE gotten here free or extremely cheap depending on your income. And at least in Pa. it would just be one other place to get it when its already available.

Don

Birth control SHOULD be covered... th is is a small price to pay for unwanted pregnancies and the costs that come along with these pregnancies.....It is expensive without the insurance coverage and incase you haven't realized that more than75% of people HAVE SEX!!!! And some people may be not so RICH .... and how about ones who are allergic to condoms and can't wear them for pregnancy reasons????? Or How about the teaching to young children about protection......

My sister takes it for medical reasons because her menstural cycle is so bad she is bed ridden for a week... so she has to regulate it for that reason....

They should be paying.... if not then put it OVER THE COUNTER!!!

My company pays through the nose to have me covered under their health insurance. Thankfully, our insurance plan/company likes to promote PREVENTATIVE HEALTH MEASURES. This means that we are covered (for a measly $15.00 co-pay) for thorough physicals twice a year. Our health insurance company discovered (and likes to promote) that people who go to the doctor BEFORE they are sick (meaning regular checkups) usually cost the health insurance companies less in the long run.

In addition to this, our health insurance company voluntarily covers birth control pills, patches and rings in their plan. This is because it COSTS LESS TO PREVENT PREGNANCY than it does to cover a normal, full term pregnancy. (The only thing they don't cover is surgery and IUDs to prevent pregnancies citing an unecessary risk of surgery.)

I have always found it stunning that some companies will cover Viagra, but not birth control. They will cover the cost of making the "member" work in order to MAKE the baby and will then cover the cost of HAVING the baby...but won't cover the cost of preventing it. It is utter effing ridiculous.

Hey Happy...long time no chat...miss you girl!!

Well, I want your heath plan! I thought I was covered...but your COVERED!! :)

Hope all is well.....

EM

All is well! Just super-busy.

YUCK! Sorry to hear it, but lookin' forward to the slow days...ol' buddy :D