So yesterday I made a happy visit to the friendly neighborhood gynecologist. I experienced the general discomfort associated with poking and prodding. Nothing too serious.
For a few months, I've been thinking about re-committing myself to oral contraceptives. I figured now was as good a time as any to talk to my doctor about new options, since it's been a while.
I explained to my doctor my reasons for giving up birth control--my main purpose was in curbing cramps and regulating my period (endometriosis runs in my family), but neither of those seemed to be gravely affected by the hormones. I told her I was interested in narrowing down the number of periods I had a year, and she had the perfect solution--a pill that, when your body adjusts, only gives you four periods a year. Score. I happily accepted the prescription.
Normally, my insurance pays about 85-90% of my birth control because my use of it is classified under "hormone therapy"-- I never had a problem forking out no more than $15 a month for my pills. But what I didn't realize is that this particular package of contraceptives is not covered by any insurance company in the United States--it's classified as a "luxury birth control." So I ended up forking over more money than I care to think about because my doctor says the benefits would be worth the trouble. I learned that if I just wanted to be on the Pill so as not to get pregnant, then I'd have to pay about 80% of the total myself on any birth control I was prescribed.
I find it funny that insurance companies consider the use of oral contraceptives as their intended purpose, i.e., to prevent pregnancy, a "luxury behavior." For many women, the Pill is just as important in this respect as condoms are for a lot of males; granted, condoms prevent transmission of STDs, but the Pill allows an intimacy between two hetero, fairly monogamous partners (i.e. glove-free) that they have a right to without having to worry about the notion of potential procreation every time they have sex.
I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist, but this smells like a ploy to discourage my right to decide how my body works and what benefits I want from sexuality.
For a few months, I've been thinking about re-committing myself to oral contraceptives. I figured now was as good a time as any to talk to my doctor about new options, since it's been a while.
I explained to my doctor my reasons for giving up birth control--my main purpose was in curbing cramps and regulating my period (endometriosis runs in my family), but neither of those seemed to be gravely affected by the hormones. I told her I was interested in narrowing down the number of periods I had a year, and she had the perfect solution--a pill that, when your body adjusts, only gives you four periods a year. Score. I happily accepted the prescription.
Normally, my insurance pays about 85-90% of my birth control because my use of it is classified under "hormone therapy"-- I never had a problem forking out no more than $15 a month for my pills. But what I didn't realize is that this particular package of contraceptives is not covered by any insurance company in the United States--it's classified as a "luxury birth control." So I ended up forking over more money than I care to think about because my doctor says the benefits would be worth the trouble. I learned that if I just wanted to be on the Pill so as not to get pregnant, then I'd have to pay about 80% of the total myself on any birth control I was prescribed.
I find it funny that insurance companies consider the use of oral contraceptives as their intended purpose, i.e., to prevent pregnancy, a "luxury behavior." For many women, the Pill is just as important in this respect as condoms are for a lot of males; granted, condoms prevent transmission of STDs, but the Pill allows an intimacy between two hetero, fairly monogamous partners (i.e. glove-free) that they have a right to without having to worry about the notion of potential procreation every time they have sex.
I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist, but this smells like a ploy to discourage my right to decide how my body works and what benefits I want from sexuality.
1 Responses to “the Pill.”
Leave a Reply
who we are.
- gw is Danger Snatch.
ks is the dyke trophy wife. - we like to blog.
- we might also like you, but this is a very slim probability.
- about Danger Snatch
- about the dyke trophy wife
something scarier? nearly all insurance companies cover viagra.