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Insurance Coverage For Birth Control

© Debbi Carter

I debated for a while about writing this article. Almost everywhere you look, something has been written concerning insurance coverage of birth control. The question hanging in the air and before the courts is 'Should Insurance Cover Birth Control?' In this article I shall give you some supporting facts and my opinion.

Here are a few facts.

Birth control is a medical necessity for some women. It is not only used as birth control, but also to treat different diseases such as endometriosis.

Adding birth control coverage would increase the cost of insurance by less than two dollars a month.

Birth control coverage will cost less compared to the cost of prenatal care, birth, and delivery, of an unplanned pregnancy.

Almost half of the large insurance group plans do not cover any form of birth control at all, but almost all that offer prescription benefits do cover Viagra.

Is coverage of birth control a matter of equal rights, cost effectiveness, or just plain smart?

In June Washington State decided it was a matter of equal rights. In the case of Erickson v. Bartell Drug Co., Judge Lasnik ruled, "...Although the plan covers almost all drugs and devices used by men, the exclusion of prescription contraceptives creates a gaping hole in the coverage offered to female employees..." You can see the full decision at http://www.covermypills.org/latest/Decis...

Many employers are now realizing that it just makes sense, both money and legal wise, to have their insurance plans cover birth control. Some companies are adding the coverage because of employees addressing the issue, and others are adding it because of state mandates.

Currently there are 16 states with some type of law requiring insurance plans with prescription drug benefits to cover birth control, and 10 states have bills pending legislation (Washington State being one of them). However, just because these laws are present, does not mean that companies have to cover birth control. Companies that are self-insured do not have to cover birth control prescriptions. Some states also have loopholes in the law that allows employers and insurance companies to not cover birth control for religious reasons.

Before both the Senate and the House of Representatives is the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage (EPICC). This is the third time this bill has been introduced. EPICC would require all plans that cover prescription drugs to also cover birth control prescriptions. It would also require coverage of outpatient birth control services if the insurance covers outpatient medical services. This bill will prevent the current loopholes from continuing in those states that have passed legislation. There is currently a petition online that you can sign at http://www.petitiononline.com/EPICC/peti... to show your support for this bill.

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