[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi]
Yes, it is true, but there is a trick. Women live longer than men and inherit from them. So there are a lot of rich old ladies who tend to balance out the huge number of single moms. The average hides a large variation.
[/QUOTE]
Interesting. Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that.
[QUOTE=yahwc]
I wonder if health insurers cover the pill if prescribed for cramps or whatever.
[/QUOTE]
Good question. I mean, I think they should cover it anyway (mine does), but most definitely if it’s necessary for a medical condition.
[QUOTE=seenidog]
In a completely unrelated thought. I propose the following solution to the Viagra vs birth control issue. Cover neither.
[/QUOTE]
I propose we only allow the people who need birth control to hang out with the people who need Viagra. Problem solved.
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe]
From here.
While many health insurers are guaranteeing free or low-cost romps to men, they are by and large denying most women the contraceptive coverage that is a fundamental health care necessity for 20 - 30 years of their adult lives (the alternative being, on average, a potential 8 - 15 pregnancies in a woman’s lifetime). According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 33 million American women are in need of contraceptive services and supplies, yet most women using birth control pay for it themselves. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that two-thirds of U.S. women of childbearing age rely on private, employer-related plans for their health coverage. While 90% of these health plans cover prescription drugs and devices, a large majority exclude prescription contraceptives from coverage. Only 33 percent of large group health plans cover the birth control pill..
[/QUOTE]
PLEASE don’t use quote blocks for cites. It makes it very difficult to include your cit in your post. Use Quote blocks for Quoting other posters.
Let’s go over this “While many health insurers are guaranteeing free or low-cost romps to men,”- how many is “many”? Is it 90% or 33%? Oddly they are able to give a figure for “Only 33 percent of large group health plans cover the birth control pill” so why not for Vaigra? :dubious:
“they are by and large denying most women the contraceptive coverage that is a fundamental health care necessity for 20 - 30 years of their adult lives” Not denying at all, just not paying for. Note that Planned Parenthood will help or pay for “the pill” and other contraceptives. Nor is it a “health care necessity” as some women don’t have sex, their partners wear a condom, their partner has had a vasectomy, they are lesbians, they don’t have intercourse, or others.
“yet most women using birth control pay for it themselves”- so do most men.
[QUOTE=lowbrass]
Exactly. My insurance doesn’t cover Rogaine, but it does cover The Pill. Would I argue that it’s discriminating against men? No, that would be absurd.
[/QUOTE]
Rogaine is now OTC.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Rogaine is now OTC.
[/QUOTE]
And…?
Birth control does not prevent intended pregnancies.
Intended pregnancies aren’t any cheaper than unintended pregnancies.
…at least from the insurer’s point of view.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Let’s go over this “While many health insurers are guaranteeing free or low-cost romps to men,”- how many is “many”? Is it 90% or 33%? Oddly they are able to give a figure for “Only 33 percent of large group health plans cover the birth control pill” so why not for Vaigra? :dubious:
<snip>
“yet most women using birth control pay for it themselves”- so do most men.
[/QUOTE]
As I stated in an earlier post:
Another study that included a range of health plans found that 85 percent covered medication and services related to impotency, whereas only 59 percent covered oral contraception.
Before you jump on any discrepancies in the numbers, one refers to “large group health plans” and the other “a range of health plans” thus accounting for the differences between the 2.
And what birth control are you talking about, that most men pay for themselves? IME men don’t have to pay for any sort of birth control, because I do. Do you have any statistics related to money spent on contraception by gender?
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Nor is it a “health care necessity” as some women don’t have sex, their partners wear a condom, their partner has had a vasectomy, they are lesbians, they don’t have intercourse, or others.
[/QUOTE]
For many women who take it, it is a medical necessity. As it is for me. I never used birth control pills for contraceptive purposes, but I take them now for purely medical reasons. My insurance company still doesn’t pay for them. I don’t know if any companies make a distinction between pills prescribed for contraception and pills prescribed for medical reasons, but from my experience and that of other posters here over the years, I’d say not very often, if at all.
[QUOTE=thirdwarning]
For many women who take it, it is a medical necessity. As it is for me. I never used birth control pills for contraceptive purposes, but I take them now for purely medical reasons. My insurance company still doesn’t pay for them.
[/QUOTE]
Why don’t you switch to an insurer who does pay for it?
[QUOTE=lowbrass]
Well if women can’t afford 30 bucks a month for birth control pills, maybe they should do the same.
[/QUOTE]
If the only reason that they’re taking them is for birth control - meaning, the pills have not been prescribed for anything but preventing pregnancy - perhaps. Sex is not a human necessity. You don’t need it and in fact you can do just fine without it. I don’t think that insurance companies have a moral obligation to pay for your grownup playtime. If it’s for a medical need, then yes, your insurer should cover it.
[QUOTE=NinjaChick]
If it’s for a medical need, then yes, your insurer should cover it.
[/QUOTE]
Why? Why can’t they cover whatever they want, and why can’t you decide if that’s a policy you’ll pay for?
[QUOTE=lowbrass]
And…?
[/QUOTE]
Almost no insurance plans cover OTC drugs. You might as well have said “My insurance won’t cover apsirin but it will cover Codeine”. :dubious:
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe]
And what birth control are you talking about, that most men pay for themselves? IME men don’t have to pay for any sort of birth control, because I do.
[/QUOTE]
Condoms. Aka “rubbers”. Never heard of them?
“IME”? 
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe]
IME men don’t have to pay for any sort of birth control, because I do. Do you have any statistics related to money spent on contraception by gender?
[/QUOTE]
And IME women don’t have to pay for any sort of birth control, because I do.
And we’re back to square one.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
“IME”?
[/QUOTE]
In My Estimation, IIRC. 
[QUOTE=kidchameleon]
In My Estimation, IIRC.
[/QUOTE]
ISTM, that’s correct.
[QUOTE=NinjaChick]
If the only reason that they’re taking them is for birth control - meaning, the pills have not been prescribed for anything but preventing pregnancy - perhaps. Sex is not a human necessity. You don’t need it and in fact you can do just fine without it. I don’t think that insurance companies have a moral obligation to pay for your grownup playtime. If it’s for a medical need, then yes, your insurer should cover it.
[/QUOTE]
So where are we then? I take it you disagree with the OP, who was angry because insurance doesn’t pay for birth control?
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Almost no insurance plans cover OTC drugs. You might as well have said “My insurance won’t cover apsirin but it will cover Codeine”. :dubious:
[/QUOTE]
Since I was specifically giving an exampla of an “absurd” argument that is not my position, I’m not sure what you think you’re proving. I agree that the argument I said was “absurd” is absurd.
Besides which, my insurance does cover codeine. So I have no idea what your point is.
[QUOTE=lowbrass]
But Viagra is medically necessary.
[/QUOTE]
I call bullshit. Men and women alike are perfectly able to get along in life, medically and mentally healthy otherwise, without being able to have sex. It’s frustrating, perhaps, but no more frustrating than having to deny someone I love (and myself) sex because I can’t afford to have kids and can’t afford effective birth control.
Viagra is a frill, just like birth control is.
~Tasha