New insurance doesn't cover birth control!!!

khaze

So I just started a new job and have new health insurance. Come to find out, the plan doesn't cover birth control...I work for an insurance/investment company for the LDS church so that is legal. Anyways I'm at a loss here for what to do. I'm currently on Nuvaring which I love and I would hate having to go back on a pill to save money. Anyone else been in this position and what did you do with your birth control? I really don't want a #2 yet lol.

Puck1182

Do they have an exception if you're on it for medical purposes?  I know that my insurance plan doesn't cover BC for its own sake, but if your OB fills out a form saying that you need it for medical purposes, they cover it.  I don't know if you'd be comfortable asking your OB to do something like that if you don't specifically need it for non-contraceptive purposes as well, but that is one way to potentially have it covered.  Maybe not the most honest thing to do, but quite frankly it's just plain dumb for insurance to not cover birth control, seeing as covering an unintended pregnancy and 18+ years of medical expenses for that kid would be a HECK of a lot more expensive, so at least you could take comfort in the knowledge that you're saving them a ridiculous amount of money. ;-)

tamarar5

Yikes! I just found out our new insurance covers all BC in all forms, including condoms... And we don't even use BC! Too bad we can't trade, right?

holly321

I second the medical reason. I get really badmigraines when iI ovulate and when I have my period, so I am on BC for medical reasons, not as BC, at this time it is just an added bonus.

Puck1182

holly321 said:

I second the medical reason. I get really badmigraines when iI ovulate and when I have my period, so I am on BC for medical reasons, not as BC, at this time it is just an added bonus.

Yup, that was me! I would have preferred nonhormonal BC, but I was miserable without those damn synthetic hormones! I'm sucking it up and going without while I BF, I'm afraid of the minipill because my previous foray into low-dosage monophasic

Puck1182

holly321 said:

I second the medical reason. I get really badmigraines when iI ovulate and when I have my period, so I am on BC for medical reasons, not as BC, at this time it is just an added bonus.

Yup, that was me! I would have preferred nonhormonal BC, but I was miserable without those damn synthetic hormones! I'm sucking it up and going without while I BF, I'm afraid of the minipill because my previous foray into low-dosage monophasic pills made my problems worse instead of better. So the pill was just my default BC since I had to be on it anyway.

AimnJus917

Puck1182 said:

Do they have an exception if you're on it for medical purposes?  I know that my insurance plan doesn't cover BC for its own sake, but if your OB fills out a form saying that you need it for medical purposes, they cover it.  I don't know if you'd be comfortable asking your OB to do something like that if you don't specifically need it for non-contraceptive purposes as well, but that is one way to potentially have it covered.  Maybe not the most honest thing to do, but quite frankly it's just plain dumb for insurance to not cover birth control, seeing as covering an unintended pregnancy and 18+ years of medical expenses for that kid would be a HECK of a lot more expensive, so at least you could take comfort in the knowledge that you're saving them a ridiculous amount of money. ;-)

 

Not to start a debate or anything, and I personally am all for saving money, but for some religious employers who don't cover BC, it's more important to them to live up to their religious beliefs than save money.  Money is no good in heaven...just sayin'.

khaze

Yes there is an exception for medical conditions that would require BC, but as far as asking my OB to sign something falsely claiming I have a condition isn't something I think I would feel comfortable doing as I definitely don't have anything that would qualify.

I guess what I was getting at with this post was looking for some suggestions of what you would do - continue to use the same BC and pay out of pocket or go for something cheaper that is another method such as a generic pill, condoms, etc. Also, if there are other options - I don't know if there are programs that help out with BC for those who can't get it? Just trying to figure out the best option as I'd have to refill in just over a week.

draeray

You can go to Planned Parenthood or the likes in your neighborhood and in most cases you can get it for free and they just ask for donations.

bumpuser7698452

You could always use condoms. I just did a quick Amazon search for the ones we use and it's only $14 for a 40ct box.   Not as cheap as the BC I was taking, but that's a pretty good deal.  

wholenewworld

draeray said:

You can go to Planned Parenthood or the likes in your neighborhood and in most cases you can get it for free and they just ask for donations.

I haven't checked, but my first thought is that they probably don't give out NuvaRing for free...those things retail at over $75. I can't imagine that would be financially sustainable. I imagine they only do oral contraceptives.

musicalmama5

I'd say it depends on how you feel with other forms of BC. I was on Nuvaring for a while because I felt the most normal on it vs other types of hormonal BC. 

How do you feel about getting an IUD? Not sure how much it costs out of pocket, but you might want to look into it, since it's just a one-time thing, then you're set until you want to TTC again. I have a Paraguard and so far so good.

Rosebean

This is horrible, but from what I understand, some insurance policies that don't cover BC will cover the cost of an abortion. It's disgusting, really.

Puck1182

Rosebean said:

This is horrible, but from what I understand, some insurance policies that don't cover BC will cover the cost of an abortion. It's disgusting, really.

This is my insurance plan!  I complained about it on here awhile ago, it's infuriating.  It's also why I wouldn't feel the list bit bad lying to get birth control covered, but fortunately/unfortunately I do actually need it for medical reasons.  My first few post-partum periods haven't been too bad, but the last one was a brutal reminder of why I was on it in the first place.  Literally the only thing I dislike about BFing is that I can't take my beloved Trinessa. ;-)

khaze

I would consider an IUD, but I think we'll be trying for another in 18 months or so, so I wouldn't be wanting to get one right now, but possibly after the next. Although I'm almost positive we'll be done after 2, so I'll have DH get snipped after that one. Just trying to figure out what to do in the mean time pay $90 a month to stay on Nuvaring or switch to a pill which I hated taking and pay $5. We could afford the $90, it's just is it worth it kind of thing. So inconvenient and I can't figure out why BC isn't covered. Unlike other churches, the LDS church doesn't preach against using BC so I'm at a loss as to why they wouldn't cover it.

holly321

lipglossandblack said:

I would consider an IUD, but I think we'll be trying for another in 18 months or so, so I wouldn't be wanting to get one right now, but possibly after the next. Although I'm almost positive we'll be done after 2, so I'll have DH get snipped after that one. Just trying to figure out what to do in the mean time pay $90 a month to stay on Nuvaring or switch to a pill which I hated taking and pay $5. We could afford the $90, it's just is it worth it kind of thing. So inconvenient and I can't figure out why BC isn't covered. Unlike other churches, the LDS church doesn't preach against using BC so I'm at a loss as to why they wouldn't cover it.

I have no idea. But maybe they would have to cover abortions. Or Plan b type bc.

lbonga1

I could be wrong, but I thought under ObamaCare, all insurance is required to fully cover BC now. I would look into that.

khaze

lbonga1 said:

I could be wrong, but I thought under ObamaCare, all insurance is required to fully cover BC now. I would look into that.

They do. Unless it's a church

emd886

If you can afford to stay on something you like and know that it works for you, I would bite the bullet and pay for it. It sucks trying different pills to get the hormones just right.

Rynleigh

lipglossandblack said:

I could be wrong, but I thought under ObamaCare, all insurance is required to fully cover BC now. I would look into that.

They do. Unless it's a church

Which sounds like a ridiculous scapegoat, in this case, since the LDS church has no doctrine or policy whatsoever against birth control... just pregnancy termination... There should be rules against religious employers claiming exemption from it if the religion they claim to be doesn't have restrictions on it... 

penguingrrl

That is so annoying. Unless you are required to be a practicing member of that religion as a condition of employment AND that religion actively disallows use of contraception they should not be allowed to not cover birth control. Would people excuse it if Scientologists refused to cover antibiotics and chemotherapy for anyone who worked for them? What about if someone who happened to work for a group that had loose ties to Mormons and the medical plan wanted to exclude blood transfusions since that goes against their beliefs?

kelly321

emd886 said:

If you can afford to stay on something you like and know that it works for you, I would bite the bullet and pay for it. It sucks trying different pills to get the hormones just right.

This. If you've had problems with pills in the past, then I would just pay for it if you can afford it. I personally loved the pill (can't take hormonal BC anymore, boo), so for me it would totally be worth it to switch if it was an $85/month difference, but you'll have to decide whether it's worth it for you.

shawnsgirl06

Just wanted to mention that you might want to check the price at a few local pharmacy's it often varies.  Our pharmacy also has several discount cards available that they use to help get the price down on medications that people don't have insurance for, it never hurts to ask.  I would not discontinue birth control that is working well with my body to save money unless I couldn't find any way to afford it!