<p>Those of you who believe that the employee needs to choose a place of employment that offers BC if they need it, tell me this- what happens if they develop a condition later in life where BC is the treatment? Are you really saying that this person should quit their job and seek employment elsewhere (no matter how long they’ve been with this company) simply because they developed a condition that their employer’s insurance won’t cover (simply because the same treatment is used for other reasons- ie, birth control)? There’s just something so wrong with that scenario IMO. </p>
<p>Then again, I also despise the fact that the only “affordable” health insurance comes from an employer (thus potentially leading to issues like this).</p>
<p>romani: Costco will offer a very reduced prescription rate for anyone who does not have insurance coverage. If this hypothetical persons insurance covers office visits and diagnostics and all they are asked to contribute is maybe $15-25/month…I am struggling to see the problem.</p>
<p>I’m not aware of any insurance that will cover Retin-A for adult acne…the cut off is in the late teens. Do we need a mandate for this also?</p>
<p>Really? I know several 20 somethings looking for individual insurance and it is FAR more expensive for them than a group plan would be…with a far higher deductible and really crappy coverage.</p>
<p>good point dietz… i knew what i bought when i bought my policy, but, is it the same logic if you employer supplies the plan?, then you dont have an option, other than to buy your own at a ridiculous price…</p>
<p>we often have to pre-certify or pre-authorize treatment or tests… if the insurance company says no…they are quick to state they are NOT denying it, they just ARENT covering it as per the policy,… it is not covered…the patient can still get the treatment/test/drug…just not with insurance money… according to them they dont deny treatment…they deny payment.</p>
<p>@dietz- Costco requires a membership IIRC. And my nearest Costco is an hour away… Besides, why should I have to go somewhere special to get a prescription when I can get every other medically necessary prescription at my local CVS?</p>
<p>The new policy does not require the Catholic church to provide contraception or abortion. It requires employers (including Catholic employers) to provide insurance that covers basic health care costs for all employees. Such a requirement would be meaningless without clear definitions of what must be included. Is it unreasonable to expect contraception - and associated doctors’ visits - to be covered as a basic health care cost for women? The vast majority of women (including Catholic women) do use contraception. It saves insurance companies a lot of money compared to the cost of unwanted pregnancies. This helps keep everybody’s costs down. </p>
<p>If a woman doesn’t want contraceptives, nobody is forcing her to use them. If Catholic priests want to preach against contraception, well, they are free to do so. However, for the system to work, employers can’t be free to redline the health care needs of an entire class of insured employees or an entire class of needs. </p>
<p>The Catholic church forced a compromise on this one. The President wants to appear respectful to the Catholic church, which is fine. But I think it is good public policy that somebody (the insurance companies, now) will still be responsible for this coverage. It is a good thing for higher education (and for families struggling to pay for it) if young women can now have it at any college they choose to attend.</p>
<p>I may be missing a detail, but I’m under the impression a woman is covered for any Dr.'s visit… She may not be covered for the prescription. And let’s be frank, most Dr’s have some latitude in coding the visit. For example, ‘insomnia’ is covered as a reason for Dr. visit, ‘anxiety’ is often not - as it comes under the mental health portion. Yet, anxiety often causes insomnia so it’s just a quesiton of which is the primary diagnostic code. I don’t see any exclusion for annual well woman visits, just possibly for the recommended medication. And, this is not exclusive to BC. My Dr. may prescribe massage, chiropractic and acupuncture but I know my policy does not cover these services…soooooo…again…do we need a mandate for this?</p>
<p>You can make all the practical and public policy arguments you all want. The fact of the matter is that the Supreme Court will undoubtedly hold that requiring a church to violate its beliefs is unconstitutional.</p>
<p>What belief are they violating if a health care practitioner prescribes BCP for one of many reasons, other than contraception, that it can be prescribed for?</p>
<p>No one has even mentioned how some employers change the coverage they offer, AFTER you’ve been employed by them for several years. So while you may have begun employment with someone who, at the time, provided coverage for BCP, what happens to you when they change their coverage ten years into your employment with them.</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>Even more likely, what happens when that health care agency you’ve been working for, for almost twenty years, is bought out by a Catholic institution and you are stuck with their benefits? Around here, many non-secular hospitals are being bought/merging with the larger Catholic hospitals in the area.</p>
<p>terwitt: a healthcare practitioner can prescribe whatever they consider appropriate. The healthcare policy may not cover the prescription…acupuncture, chiropractic, bio-feedback, off-label use of any medication (ie viagra for women), Retin-A for adults…all these are often not covered by a health care plan.</p>
<p>dietz, mncollegemom said that, within her state, individual plans were cheaper than group plans. I was asking to see some evidence of that statement. Because if it were true, employers would simply purchase individual policies on behalf of their employees. How many employers do that?</p>
<p>Of course it may be true that Crappy Individual Plan A is cheaper than High-Quality Group Plan B. That’s another problem with our crazy system – it’s almost impossible to compare apples to apples.</p>
<p>Yes. Here’s another problem with the “solution” of choosing a job which offers BC: How do you find out? “Hello, thank you for offering me this interview. Here’s my resume and references. By the way, does you health plan include birth control?”</p>
<p>Another problem: Employers change carriers and plans from time to time. An employer who offers a plan including BC this year, may not next year.</p>
<p>LasMa…sorry, I missed that detail in your post. And, I couldn’t agree more that we need a way to compare health care plans and costs. I would love to see a mandatory Net Price Calculator for all health care provider and plans…just like we now have for all Universities. The biggest problem is that it’s almost impossible to be an informed consumer.</p>
<p>I don’t think Costco requires membership for their pharmacies. At the door, you say that you’re going to the pharmacy.</p>
<p>Besides, why should I have to go somewhere special to get a prescription when I can get every other medically necessary prescription at my local CVS?</p>
<p>like anything in this world, when you want a better price, you have to shop around. I could ask the same question about everything I buy…Why should I have to go somewhere special…well, if I want a better price, I don’t just go to the local what-have-you…that’s life.</p>