My wife is a nurse at a major hospital. A former Catholic hospital run by nuns, since bought out by a large health-care organization. I was reading through the pro-choice thread and read about insurance companies that will pay for viagra but won't cover the cost of birth control. I just took a look at her insurance info and sure enough, they will not pay for any form of birth control but viagra, not to mention other male impotency drugs and treatment, is covered 100%.
Birth controls pills are not tax deductible either, but viagra is.
One good thing about it viagra is expensive -vs- birth control pills (even though bc pills are still expensive w/o insurance coverage the viagra pills are even more expensive).
BTW does anyone know the price of the two pills? (Maybe nobody wants to admit it?) I have heard the price of viagra but can't remember what it was, just that I remember think it was expensive! BC is expensive too but not like viagra.
posted on March 17, 2001 11:11:28 PM
Well, you know, we have to keep on creating children until the population explodes so huge that we will all be living in Sheer HELL!
And if you can keep a woman pregnant, you have more control over her -- right? Barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen -- sorta like the Taliban in Afganistan, eh?
posted on March 18, 2001 06:36:44 AM
My previous job involved working for a very large HMO. The same situation was true there - viagra was covered, birth control was not. A bunch of the women got together and sent a letter to the higher-ups saying that this was not right. We actually got a response - it said that viagra treated a medical problem (a normal man should be able to 'get it up') while becoming pregnant was not a 'medical problem'. To be honest, I think they do have a point. I don't agree that it's right, but it is valid.
But what really got me was when they floated a proposal to make masectomies (sp?) an - what's the term - 'out-of-office'(?) procedure. In otherwords, no overnight hospital stay. HUH!!!!! They backed off that one real fast.
But the one that really gets me is a hospital stay while having a baby. Luckily I'm healthy and had no problems with my two. In each case, I was in the hospital less than a day. But I know a woman - well, I don't know if she's actually on welfare but she gets quite a bit of government help - anyway, she had her 7th child and was in the hospital for three days. (No, she didn't have any problems either.) Doesn't quite seem right.
posted on March 18, 2001 06:54:38 AM
Being pregnant is a medical issue...there is a limited amount of money for healthcare...birth control is cheaper by far than pregnancies.
NY made it a law that the minimum is 2 days post partum before a woman is discharged unless she requests to be. Quite honestly any earlier is not safe. Even at 2 days the PKU is not done on the infant and far too many mothers "forget" to take their neonate back for it. It could very well prove to be more expensive for the healthcare system in the future.
Medicaid pays by DRG, as well as do HMOs, many insurances and Medicare. The hospital is paid according to the diagnosis and does not receive extra for the number of days, etc. that the patient remains in house. Therefore, the quicker they get you out...the more profit they make. If your care costs more than they receive the eat the cost and write it off later.
Viagra is covered for mentle health reasons. Impotency is a stress on many males well being. As I have mentioned...mentle health is a health issue...for men as well as women.
Birth control is not covered because we accept their "limp" excuses as valid. As a society we should not. Birth control is much cheaper than all of the alternatives. Even when a pregnancy is desired it should involve several months of prep time to promote the lowest risk of birth defects and maternal problems.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:34:29 PM
I always wondered why insurance companies don't cover eye glasses. If it's too common, however legitimate the medical need, they simply won't cover it. All part of the profit scheme.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:37:54 PM
Glasses? How about dentists, man, have a real hard time getting an insurance company that covers any or part of dentistry.
And dentists seem to be more expensive than MDs! ack [email protected]
posted on March 18, 2001 09:50:01 PM
James: You said: "All part of the profit scheme."
I'd almost agree with you, however, my insurance company has made changes to its policy that are not 'cost effective'.
A few years ago the Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan (which I was covered under as part of my dads work health insurance) notified their insured that they would no longer cover any fees related to abortion.
I did some research (it is sitting in a file *somewhere* around here, but I can't find it so I don't have the numbers) and found that the cost for a full term pregancy and delevery (with NO problems) cost the company close to 15 times what an abortion (and follow up Dr. vists) would. I did write and ask BC/BS why they had changed their policy, but never heard back.
When an insurance company (of all things) makes changes that cost them money, something seems amiss.
NeartheSea: Just wanted to say that I *LOVE* the email address. I catch Art whenever I can! I fell asleep durring Friday's show and missed the last half of the interview with the 'alien in the 'fridge' guy.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:55:48 PM
Insurance companies driven by ideology (if that's what it is) -- there's a new one!
I also wonder why many insurance companies require referrals. I mean, is my primary care physician not going to give me a referral when I tell him that I need my yearly eye exam? Of course he will. The insurance company just pays for two doctor visits. It's idiocy and it's a pain in the ass. I guess their statistics show that the extra hoop jumping discourages people and in the long run they win.
posted on March 18, 2001 10:08:24 PM
lotsafuzz-LOL!! (its a phoney email) I love Art Bell!
Sorry to go off topic, but the alien in the freezer, you can see the whole thing! I had to read the 'story' and the whole thing supposedly took place here in Seattle, with Men in Black and the whole nine yards.....
AW this is NOT another messageboard link,
but here is the whole website on that alien in the freezer
