04 Mar Health Insurance Companies to take a step ahead in birth control- know what’s important
The new Obamacare insurance coverage requirements, especially the preventative assistance took effect for women. Under the Affordable Care Act, for the first time, insurance companies will be required to cover further preventive health benefits for women to fill the gaps in current preventive services. The new guidelines provided under the Affordable Care Act allow women to receive a complete set of precautionary services without having to pay a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible (also referred to as cost-sharing).
There also seems to lie a confusion about what contraceptives are covered in the insurance plan. Even though the Affordable Care Act states that concerned women will have access to all FDA-approved contraceptives — it is right to believe that all types do not equal all brands. Under Obamacare, plans still have the versatility to control costs and promote adequate delivery of care by continuing to charge cost-sharing for branded drugs if a nonexclusive version is available and just as effective.
Many insurance companies are deciphering the section of the law that allows them to “use reasonable medical management to help control costs” which means that they can charge a co-pay for some forms of birth control but not others. You could be asked to pay a co-pay to get the NuvaRing, as only generic birth control pills are covered without a co-pay.
According to Drug Administration and HealthCare.Gov Food, contraceptive methods designated by a woman’s doctor are covered. The list includes:
- Barrier methods (used during intercourse), like diaphragms and sponges
- Implanted devices, like intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- Hormonal methods, like birth control pills and vaginal rings
- Sterilization procedures
- Emergency contraception, like Plan B® and ella®
- Patient education and counseling
Services which are not covered are:
- Drugs to induce abortions
- Services related to a man’s reproductive capacity, like vasectomies
Under the Affordable Care Act, non-grandfathered plans must cover specified recommended preventive care services without cost-sharing, consistent with PHS Act section 2713.
The 18 types of contraception are:
- Sterilization surgery
- Surgical sterilization implant
- Copper intrauterine device
- Implantable rod
- Shot/injection
- IUDs with progestin (a hormone)
- Oral contraceptives with progestin-only
- Oral contraceptives (the pill), with estrogen and progestin
- The patch
- Oral contraceptives, known as extended or continuous use that delay menstruation
- Diaphragm
- Vaginal contraceptive ring
- Cervical cap
- Sponge
- Female condom
- Spermicide
- Emergency contraception (Plan B/morning-after pill)
- Emergency contraception (a different pill called Ella)
Proponents of this concerned issue believe that People have an extremely unfavorable reaction to abortions, but if more people were able to prevent pregnancies in the first place, there would be considerably less of an outcry about abortions. People require to be able to take charge of their lives and being able to have a baby when you want is an essential transition point that needs to be achieved.
China has a limit on its population increase in law, but we have the prospect to do something even better by educating and empowering citizens to control their birth cycles. Out-of-pocket costs can be eliminated by usage of more-reliable and cost-effective contraceptives, such as IUDs and hormonal implants. These methods may protect for several years, without relying on women to remember to take a pill or inject a device. However, their higher upfront costs currently inhibit many women from using them.
Whereas opponents say that the government has no business mandating coverage of an elective medication. It makes sense that some women take hormonal contraceptives for other medical purposes but participating in unprotected sex isn’t a medical situation, it’s an option. However, it’s also true that it is most likely in the best interest of insurance companies to cover in part or entirely birth control medication because, in the long run, it will save them the costs linked with pregnancy. Even without insurance, birth control is relatively less expensive for the general than aborting or raising a child.
At this point, it’s unclear whether contraception will make the list of free covered preventive services. A few specific women’s health services, such as mammograms, are required by the new law.
What are your thoughts? Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
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