Do think it is discriminatory when insurance refuses reimbursement on oral contraception, but pays for Viagra?

I work for a non-profit realigously-based company that includes hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, etc. They are self insured.

Anywho, because of thier interfaith religious affiliation they refuse to pay for birth control, as it is morally wrong. It doesn't matter if you are really only taking it for pre-menopausal symtoms, painful periods, or what, they refuse to pay up. I could be wrong, but throughout my prodestant upbringing I never once heard the church tell me that it was wrong for a married woman to prevent conception. I can understand refusing to pay for abortions, but no contraception is a rediculous.

On another note, I am constantly hearing about their nursing shortage at work. Seems to me the nursing shortage would just get worse if all their female nurses were getting knocked up everytime they have a night of fun with their husbands.

But by golly, it sure is important that men should be insured for a drug that helps them get a woody!

Am I off-base?

No there are two reasons for this, 1- Most insurance CEO's are men and of course they want to be able to play when they want to play.
2- Alot of the insurance executives are conservatives who don't believe in birth control because they still think that a woman's place in in the home not the work place.
3- The Catholic religion doesn't believe in the birth control, except for the rhythm method, but again the Catholic church is run by men not women who are the ones actually having the children. So if the nursing home that you work for is run by the Catholic Church or affiliated with them they will not cover birth control.

I think that is discrimination. If they just shut their mouth, they could claim that erectile dysfunction is a medical disorder that needs treatment, but the stance that they take is discrimination, and they should be challenged on it, because as you pointed out, there are medical conditions that benefit from OCP's!

It is financially stupid as well. A few dollars for contraceptives can save them untold thousands to pay for pregnancies and deliveries.

OH man you ARE so &^^%# right!

Honestly, let's keep writing to Washington about this because it IS NOT right.

Flipping old men. Maybe if it's not working- it's not suppossed to be!

I just wanted to comment on the viagra thing. I work in a doctors office and it seems like we have a hard time getting patients insurance to cover viagra. We have had to do many authorizations for this. They usually cover I think 7 pills per 15 day period. Not sure if it's the same for all insurances, states or what...

They can't refuse medication if you need it for medical purposes unless they're self insured, then they can do whatever they want.
Just head to Planned Parenthood.