Birth control not "medically necessary", but Viagra is?

[twitchy]

Union Pacific Case on Contraceptive Coverage Could Change the Rules Nationwide

Last week the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case against Union Pacific Railroad, which is being sued for failing to cover contraceptives in its health plans. In July 2005 a U.S. District court ruled in favor of the two women who filed the suit along with Planned Parenthood. The original ruling stating that Union Pacific, which employs about 49,000 workers nationwide, including 1,300 (that's 2.6% for those of you keeping track), illegally discriminates against female employees by not providing contraceptive coverage in its health plans.
The lower court went further, saying that Union Pacific's policy is in violation of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discrimination based on gender or pregnancy. The policy was deemed discriminatory because it covered many preventive health medications -- including drugs for erectile dysfunction -- but not contraception.
The company has argued that it did not need to provide contraceptive coverage "because fertility is 'normal,'" and, therefore, birth control is not "medically necessary." Ah, and Viagra is sooo necessary.
Judge Pasco Bowman, who sits on the appeals court panel said Thursday that if the ruling holds it could mandate all companies to cover birth control in their plans.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/...pacific_c.html

[Chalet]

My friend's insurance does not cover BC but it covers Viagra and the like. She changed jobs and flipped that her prescription was not covered.

It makes no sense, other than it's a man's world. You'd think by now they'd realize that BC and Viagra benefits both sexes equally.

[cynic]

Now ladies, Viagra can be prescribed for circulation problems (yes, we all know the main purpose.....but it was not originally prescribed for that....it was just a nice little side benefit of improving the circulation). Birth control, however, is just that. Medicine used for birth control only.

Therefore, Viagra is considered a medicine for a medical condition (poor circulation) and is covered by insurance plans.

Ya'll are paranoid......

[cloud]

Oh Cynic - I love you to no end ... however, birth control may have originally been developed to prevent pregnancy, but is now used for many other medical purposes including hormone adjustment, uncontrolled bleeding - etc.

It's high time these companies start looking at their insurance a little more carefully. I need my hormones adjusted as much as Cynic needs his 'circulation' improved!

[pacific breeze]

More women still die in childbirth or have pregnancy-related health issues than have circulation problems. Duh.

[cynic]

Originally Posted by cloud

Oh Cynic - I love you to no end ... however, birth control may have originally been developed to prevent pregnancy, but is now used for many other medical purposes including hormone adjustment, uncontrolled bleeding - etc.

It's high time these companies start looking at their insurance a little more carefully. I need my hormones adjusted as much as Cynic needs his 'circulation' improved!

And lucky us if it happens simultaneously......

Looking for education here, but I thought most of the hormone adjustment reasons for the Pill was recently tested to be more dangerous for heart attacks and stroke and breast cancer as compared to what was good for a woman? Or do they prescribe them for pre-menopausal women, too?

Originally Posted by pacific breeze

More women still die in childbirth or have pregnancy-related health issues than have circulation problems. Duh.

Yah, but even though I think it is, most folks don't consider pregnancy to be a disease. At least not one that one takes "medication" to prevent. The diseases caused by pregnancy and childbirth, I would think are treated with drugs other than the Pill.

[cloud]

Originally Posted by cynic

And lucky us if it happens simultaneously......

Lucky Indeed!

Looking for education here, but I thought most of the hormone adjustment reasons for the Pill was recently tested to be more dangerous for heart attacks and stroke and breast cancer as compared to what was good for a woman? Or do they prescribe them for pre-menopausal women, too?

Hm, you know - I don't know about recent tests. I was on them for an imbalance about 2 years ago, but thank the gods I seem to have balanced out after the second baby. But, I was definitely pre-menopausal!

The diseases caused by pregnancy and childbirth, I would think are treated with drugs other than the Pill.

At my house we prescribe tequila ... and it's a 24 hour pharmacy.

[Banshee]

There are some women who use the pill for cycle regulation- my body's natural cycle is 14 days on, 11 days off. Why in the world should I have to bleed for more time than I don't every single month if there is something that not only will make that stop, but will cut down on cramping and keep me from getting anemic or pregnant?

And how is that less medically viable than "circulation issues" for which the treatment is an erection inducing pill?

There are tons of women with cycle regulation issues, severe and debilitating cramps and crazy PMS who benefit from the pill. Pregnancy isn't the only thing that goes wrong with our uteruses. The danged things have minds of their own.

[crumpet]

Yah, but even though I think it is, most folks don't consider pregnancy to be a disease.

Yeah, I've always considered pregnancy to be a sexually transmitted disease,too. Also, birth control pills are used to help women who have very painful periods that cause them to miss work as well as other activities; they also help clear up cystic acne in many women,too. I don't care how you slice it, nobody needs a hard dick to survive.

[cynic]

Now, see, they WILL cover the tequila.....but NOT the worm.......

Originally Posted by crumpet

Yah, but even though I think it is, most folks don't consider pregnancy to be a disease.

Yeah, I've always considered pregnancy to be a sexually transmitted disease,too. Also, birth control pills are used to help women who have very painful periods that cause them to miss work as well as other activities; they also help clear up cystic acne in many women,too. I don't care how you slice it, nobody needs a hard dick to survive.

And cramps and acne are more life threatening than circulation problems?!?!?! Women.......

[ohmygoodness]

The world would be one big whining baby if men had menstrual cramps. For me, it feels like somebody is sticking a knife straight into my uterus, and twisting it every time I move. My girlfriends and I try to explain this to our guyfriends when they roll their eyes when we complain of cramps, but they don't get it. I know though that if they felt the same thing, we'd never hear the end of it!

[Tati]

Eh... I think this is fucked up. I've been on the receiving end of four different insurance plans (parent's, university's, partner's, my own) and I used to work as a pharmacy technician. In all of those cases, the reverse was true. In all my experience at the pharmacy, I never once saw Viagra covered by any plan, and birth control always was.

[LynnieD]

Health Insurance plans suck....and it's all about men.

[suede]

Originally Posted by cynic

Now ladies, Viagra can be prescribed for circulation problems (yes, we all know the main purpose.....but it was not originally prescribed for that....it was just a nice little side benefit of improving the circulation). Birth control, however, is just that. Medicine used for birth control only.

Therefore, Viagra is considered a medicine for a medical condition (poor circulation) and is covered by insurance plans.

Ya'll are paranoid......

So are oral contraceptives.

9 of 11 years I took them was not for "protection" from pregnancy.

[ohmygoodness]

I don't take my BC for contraception either. I mean, I'm single and I'm a virgin! Haha.