Should comprehensive health insurance include coverage for contraception?

Contributor: pootpootpoot pootpootpoot
Yes! I'm not sure why it's such a huge deal, anyway. People who don't want birth control won't use it, so the insurance won't have to pay for anything. The employees might be paying a bit more than they would have, but I don't think it would make a large difference.
03/26/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
Yes it should be covered. Birth control pills cost a fortune and I haven't been on them in over 5 years so I can't imagine how much they cost now.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
If a religious institution makes itself into a business, by hiring employees etc, then they should be subject to the same laws as other businesses.

Funny how it all centres around women's health. I don't see any debate about whether unmarried men should be allowed viagra, whether care for liver damage caused by alcoholism should be covered, and all the various other "sins" that affect one's health. No. It's all about keeping down the sluts.

SO glad for the NHS. It's far from perfect and getting worse, but it's better than the shit you Americans put up with.
03/27/2012
Contributor: hot n spicey hot n spicey
This subject is so touchy. What I dont understand is how the government and insurance agencies want to complain about things like over population and how high medical costs are but many will not cover contraception.
03/27/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Silverdrop
If a religious institution makes itself into a business, by hiring employees etc, then they should be subject to the same laws as other businesses.

Funny how it all centres around women's health. I don't see any debate about whether ... more
I totally agree. Most Americans who are not millionaires or selfish (the "not on MY dime" people) would LOVE National Health.

Many churches do run businesses. Like I said, if they want to run businesses and not pay taxes (which they don't have to do in the US) then they should have to make sure their entire staff is priests, nuns, and volunteers. They get the perks of running businesses, but they don't have to pay the same prices (like pay tax) or follow the same rules of other businesses.
03/27/2012
Contributor: glassrose glassrose
Religion has no place in the decisions I make regarding my own body. Health coverage gives men Viagra and the knock-offs, despite having no other medical benefit other then erection.
Birth control pills have been used for over thirty years for a variety of medical issues with women from regulating their cycles when they won't stabilize to acne, PMS, endometriosis, for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the list goes on. There are legitimate medical uses for birth control pills yet the corporations and extremist zealots want to reach for every possible thread to control the women in this country. When will it end?! Freedom of religion does not mean freedom of a religion to hold women down.
Reeling it in here. Clearly, I believe all female contraception should be covered. It's my body and it’s my right to use it for medical issues should I need to.
03/27/2012
Contributor: Geekhyena Geekhyena
Quote:
Originally posted by glassrose
Religion has no place in the decisions I make regarding my own body. Health coverage gives men Viagra and the knock-offs, despite having no other medical benefit other then erection.
Birth control pills have been used for over thirty years for a ... more
Exactly. Without BC, a week and a half each month, I would be unable to work. No one would hire someone like that. I need it to function. It is not a luxury for me, no more than my migraine meds.
03/28/2012
Contributor: badk1tty badk1tty
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
As insurance companies have been pointing out for years, offering coverage nationwide and consistently will reduce the amount of services rendered that go unpaid. A pack of pills, an IUD, a tubal, a vasectomy or even a pack of condoms is by far ... more
^ this.
04/08/2012
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
Everyone has to offer, not everyone has to accept it. The fun fact is, most insurance companies drop the cost of plans that have birth control, since they don't want to pay for children that you don't want. If you don't like it, don't use it.
05/29/2012
Contributor: spineyogurt spineyogurt
Yeah why not everything else is covered.
06/03/2012
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by unfulfilled
Yes it should be covered. Birth control pills cost a fortune and I haven't been on them in over 5 years so I can't imagine how much they cost now.
Actually, there are now at least 2 different varieties of birth control pills that cost $4 per pack, and 7 different varieties for $9. There are also several varieties that can be had for less than $25 a month. That's not really bank-breaking. I fully support increased access to birth control, but I also support women having access to all the facts. You have to talk to your doctor about budget alternatives.

But my main issue with this is that separation of church and state works both ways: the government does not have the right to tell a church how to run itself anymore than a church has the right to tell the government how to run.
06/13/2012
Contributor: Tork48309 Tork48309
No, you'll utimately pay more for it if it is covered under insurance just like everything else that insurance pays for. Contraception is cheap, prices will go up if health insurance has to pay for it.
06/13/2012
Contributor: snowyslut snowyslut
Quote:
Originally posted by Rawhide
This argument is playing out nationally, where do you stand?
Absolutely. It's a central part of health care, and absolutely necessary for people who choose it's quality of life. Disallowing it would be terrible for the policy holder, and it would ultimately cost the employer more money.
07/15/2012
Contributor: Gina RPG Geek Gina RPG Geek
Quote:
Originally posted by Rawhide
This argument is playing out nationally, where do you stand?
there are too many people, if you want contraception, you should be able to get it and not worry about the cost!
07/16/2012
Contributor: SkylarrStarr SkylarrStarr
I am still in awe that this is even a debate.
07/18/2012
Contributor: KRD KRD
Absolutely.
07/21/2012
Contributor: Experiment Experiment
I was put on birth control for non-contraceptive reasons. The truth is, there's lots of reasons girls are put on birth control that are serious health issues. So the churches claiming it's because they don't believe in contraception is irrelevant because birth control is a legitimate non-contraceptive medicine in a lot of casess
07/21/2012
Contributor: curiousnwilling curiousnwilling
Health insurance providers WANT to. Because pregnancy (as we all know) is EXPENSIVE!
07/23/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
As insurance companies have been pointing out for years, offering coverage nationwide and consistently will reduce the amount of services rendered that go unpaid. A pack of pills, an IUD, a tubal, a vasectomy or even a pack of condoms is by far ... more
Very good points.
07/23/2012
Contributor: Billie Bones Billie Bones
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
As insurance companies have been pointing out for years, offering coverage nationwide and consistently will reduce the amount of services rendered that go unpaid. A pack of pills, an IUD, a tubal, a vasectomy or even a pack of condoms is by far ... more
I like the bit about the goose and the gander.
07/29/2012
Contributor: AmethystSmoke AmethystSmoke
Other. I'm not against plans covering contraceptives but neither am I for requiring all plans to cover them. Insurance companies need to make the decision of what is cost effective for them to successfully serve their customers as well as stay in business.

The argument that it's irresponsible for insurance companies to not cover contraceptives (as a form of birth control) is something I strongly disagree with. It's NOT the responsibility of a company to make sure you're protected against pregnancy - it's the responsibility of the INDIVIDUAL. If your insurance plan doesn't cover the contraceptive of your choice then use something that is covered or pay for it out of your pocket. If you have sex without contraception because you can't afford it then how the heck do you think you'll be able to afford raising a child? Talk about not taking responsibility for your actions.

I've personally never had an insurance plan that covered the Pill. I wanted to have sex and wanted the most effective contraceptive so I paid for them myself. Yes, they were expensive but it was the cost of doing business so to speak. Sex was a priority so I made budgeting to pay for my Pill a priority. As expensive as the Pill was, it was a heck of a lot cheaper both emotionally and economically than an unplanned pregnancy!
08/02/2012
Contributor: edenguy edenguy
I said yes but I see a basis for certian people opting out
08/12/2012
Contributor: LittleArtemis LittleArtemis
Quote:
Originally posted by Rawhide
This argument is playing out nationally, where do you stand?
Yes. Especially as birthcontrol for women has benefits like preventing cervical cancer, regulating hormones, and ones period. Or even preventing ones period. It has many benefits for ones health other than holding off a pregnancy that could be unwanted.
08/20/2012
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
While the male birth control pill is yet to see the light of day in the market, when it does, do you feel that it should be covered by health insurance?
08/21/2012
Contributor: KrissyNovacaine KrissyNovacaine
A person should have the option of choices. That shouldn't be limited by the beliefs of their employer.
08/21/2012
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
But why is it the government's business what a particular private company does and does not offer? Some insurance companies do cover birth control and do that without a state mandate - if the government would let health insurance compete, surely birth control offerings would become standard, as it's obvious a lot of people care about it being covered.
08/21/2012
Contributor: kaylajoy89 kaylajoy89
yes, my birth control pill are free to me and i'm so glad.
03/27/2013
Contributor: Alyona Alyona
Yes, for all employers who offer health insurance
03/28/2013
Contributor: FieryRed FieryRed
Quote:
Originally posted by Chirple
It's also ridiculous to pretend that "contraceptive devices" are only used by people trying to prevent pregnancy.

They have many uses and non-baby-related health benefits.
Exactly! Even without all the other valid arguments, hormonal "contraceptives" are OFTEN prescribed for medical issues, not just for prevention of pregnancy. Therefore, the church-run businesses (how did that happen, anyway?) don't have a leg to stand on with this.
03/30/2013
Contributor: jr2012 jr2012
absolutely yes. there should be no reason for an employer to deny this service (because I'm sure the insurance company doesn't care that much). If a church-affiliated person believes that contraception is wrong, then don't get a prescription! sheesh.
03/30/2013