Post # 1
Member
562 posts
Busy bee
I am still a poor college student, and I am under my parents’ insurance. I have always been on both of their insurances, but at the beginning of the year, my mom’s insurance was going up so she decided to drop me. So now I am only on my dad’s insurance plan. I had my prescription transferred over, and I just had them refill my birth control (nuvaring). It ended up costing almost $200 for a 3 month supply! After a phone call to the insurance company and some online investigation on the insurance website, I have learned that this insurance company will not cover any contraceptives. Not nuvaring, not any of the pills, nothing. In my mind, it’s way cheaper for an insurance company to pay for birth control than to pay all the expenses that go along with a new baby.
Is this normal practice by insurance companies? Does any one else’s insurance refuse to cover any birth control? I sure hope my soon to be husband’s insurance isn’t like this, or we may have a little one way before we want to!
Post # 3
Member
196 posts
Blushing bee
It is not normal practice. Most companies do cover it, but some are holding out as long as possible. By late this year or early next year, ALL insurance companies will be legally required to carry it under Obama’s new health care package.
Post # 4
Member
5422 posts
Bee Keeper
I feel your pain. When I was on my mother’s plan in college I paid $12/month. Now schools over and Im on my own work plan its more like $75/month. Needless to say, I sought alternatives.
Post # 5
Member
3622 posts
Sugar bee
I can’t believe that. That sucks! I know it’s not the best form of BC, but you should look online to see where you can get free condoms. I know they have a ton of locations in NYC. They probably have something similar where you live.
Post # 6
Member
5295 posts
Bee Keeper
are you able to get it through your school? If not, I believe planned parenthood can be of help.
Post # 7
Member
1938 posts
Buzzing bee
My Insurance company (through my parents as well, until I get married) will cover it for a little while, but it seems like I will be on something for a month before they decide to stop covering it (first Nuva Ring, then Yaz). As far as I know though a bill has been passed that makes it so that all health insurance HAS TO cover birth control. Its supposed to go into effect this year, I am not sure what month though.
Its a pretty pathetic world though that most insurance companies have covered VIAGRA for years and most still don’t cover birth control…..
Post # 8
Member
724 posts
Busy bee
Wow thats insane. I started getting my birth control through planned parenthood when i was in college due to my parents strict beliefs against it. I have continued to get my BC through them even now that I have health insurance because it is much cheaper. My prescription is $18 per month. You should check it out! They are so nice and I have never had any problems!
Post # 9
Member
1572 posts
Bumble bee
My old insurance was really amazing.. except for when it came to contraceptives. It would only cover contraceptives if your doctor wrote a letter deeming them medically necessary for you or your treatment AND the insurance co dr agreed with them. Maybe try that route – or if push comes to shove, check with Planned Parenthood
Post # 10
Member
224 posts
Helper bee
I am under my moms as well and they have never covered birth control as well. I pay around $75 a month for nuvaring and that is through planned parenthood. Its rediculous but I pay it since we can’t afford to have a baby right now. I feel your pain right now though.
Post # 11
Member
7286 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Ofcourse, If guys bled out of their penis everymonth and could get pregnant, it would be free.
Anyways, that really sucks! Unless you can afford an alternative health plan theres not much to be done. I second checking out planned parent hood and see if their sliding scale can work with you!
Post # 12
Member
3617 posts
Sugar bee
If there is a generic version try that. Mine (yaz) would be like 75$ a month but I opt for the generic version for $15. It definitely depends on your insurance though. My old job had GREAT insurance and it was only 20$ for name brand and it was 10$ for a THREE month supply of generic.
Post # 13
Member
688 posts
Busy bee
@hisgoosiegirl: I used to get mines thru PP also while in College. They charge me based on my income and that made it dirt cheap since I was poorrrrrrrrrr.
@Eva Peron: I so agree. If a men needs it then it would be covered a longgggggggg time ago.
Post # 14
Member
562 posts
Busy bee
Thanks everyone! My parents are paying for it, so I’m not really that worried about it. I just didn’t know if it was normal or not. I have enough birth control stocked up to last me until the wedding. I didn’t know about the new bill. Hopefully that will go into effect soon so I won’t have worry about if my husband’s insurance will cover it. He suggested the “pull and pray” method, but that’s not going to happen. 🙂
Post # 15
Member
562 posts
Busy bee
@Eva Peron: HAHAHAHA!!!!! That’s hilarious, but so true!
Post # 16
Member
5147 posts
Bee Keeper
You should go to a county health clinic. They will have a sliding pay-scale. During college, working part-time, the most I paid was $5/pack. When I didn’t have a job at all, they were free.