Methods of birth control for women include oral contraceptives, diaphragms, hormone injections, and tubal ligation or sterilization (Baker 1, 3). While most health care plans cover the costs of all specifically male medications including Viagra, many insurance policies do not offer reimbursement for female contraceptives ("U.S." 1). Lack of adequate coverage raises issues of cost, health, and discrimination for women attesting the necessity and must of insurance companies to pay for prescription female contraceptives like birth control pills.

Whereas nearly all health care plans offer coverage for maternity care, which costs considerably more than contraceptives, less than one-third of insurance companies pay for contraceptives such as birth control pills (Vargas 456; "Study"). Expenses due to pregnancy and childbirth costs account for the greatest amount, twenty to forty-nine percent, of all health care expenditures ("Study").

According to Judy Winkler, the director of marketing at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, vaginal births without complications cost, on average, $2500 for a twenty-four hour stay and $2700 for a forty-eight hour stay; for the typical ninety-six hour stay associated with uncomplicated, planned Cesarean sections, a price of around $4500 can be expected. On the west coast, for example, Washington state, childbirth costs are increased by almost three times with $8618 as the average cost of uncomplicated vaginal births and $10638 for Cesarean sections ("Study"). When, however, problems arise such as emergency, unplanned Cesarean sections, hospital expenses multiply significantly.

More economical than prenatal care, childbirth, and childcare, contraceptive coverage adds little to and may actually lower medical costs for health care providers, and yet, most insurance plans still do not pay for oral contraceptives ("U.S." 1; Landa 2). Conversely, ninety-seven percent of plans cover other prescription drugs while only forty-nine percent cover any prescription contraceptive method. Just thirty-three percent cover birth control pills, which cost approximately five hundred dollars per year (Landa 1; Baker 2).

Viagra, on the other hand, which is covered by the majority of insurance plans, costs roughly ten dollars per pill for an average of ten to fifteen pills per month, resulting in a prescription price of $1800 a year ("U.S." 1; Laabs 1). An estimated three hundred thousand men who take Viagra, the male impotence pill, are reimbursed by their health care plans (Baker 2). Furthermore, almost all male drugs and devices are covered by insurance policies whereas female contraceptives are covered by only thirty-three percent of health care plans ("U.S." 1). In fact, women pay sixty-eight percent more out-of-pocket for medication than men, and unfortunately, low-income women who cannot afford birth control pills without insurance must instead carry and deliver unintended babies ("Women"; Laabs 1; Landa 2).

Doctors believe that contraceptives are important for the health of women and that the lack of coverage of prescription birth control is a medical problem for females (Landa 1). Closely spaced and unintended pregnancies are not only risky but can also lead to pre-term births and higher abortion rates ("U.S." 1). Fifty percent of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and of those accidental pregnancies, fifty percent are aborted (Vargas 457). Viagra allows men to have better sex, but without coverage for birth control pills, the resulting pregnancies are not prevented ("Viagra" 1).

Numerous insurance companies claim the lack of coverage for prescription contraceptives is due to birth control pills not being prescribed to treat medical disorders. Health care plans argue that oral contraceptives are not "medically necessary" (Tebo 1; Baker 2). On the contrary, birth control pills are commonly prescribed to treat a number of medical disorders associated with the female reproductive system such as dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and estrogen imbalances, not just for contraception.

Many women experience dysmenorrhea, excruciating cramps including pain and pressure in the abdomen, pain in the back and thighs, and upset stomachs, or heavy bleeding with their periods. The hormones in oral contraceptives not only prevent ovulation for birth control but also thin the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, for less severe menstruation. Birth control pills are also used to treat endometriosis, a condition where the endometrium forms in other areas of the abdominal cavity other than the uterus; estrogen imbalances, as well, are managed through the female hormones, forms of estrogen and progesterone, in oral contraceptives (Vargas 457).

Obviously the claim against birth control pill coverage as not "medically necessary" used by insurance companies is inaccurate (Tebo 1; Baker 2). Also, Viagra raises more revenue for both drug and health care companies than oral contraceptives indicating a possible asinine scapegoat for the arrangements between the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.

Not paying for female treatments but covering male medication is sex discrimination that breaches gender equality laws (Landa 1). Lack of coverage for oral contraceptives is in violation of the 1979 Pregnancy Discrimination Act as well, not only for health care plans but also for employers (Landa 2, "Study"). Under the amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, medical expenses due to pregnancy, childbirth, and other related medical conditions must be covered for employees by the health insurance provided by employers ("Affirmative"; "Facts"). Denying coverage contravenes federal civil rights laws ("State").

However, as laws for insurance coverage are currently gender biased, bills are being introduced to cover birth control pills on behalf of laws being created for equal female coverage ("U.S." 1; "Viagra" 1; "Study"). For example, as of June 7, 2003, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois signed a bill for covering contraceptive costs that goes into effect in January 2004 ("Governor"). Illinois and twenty other states are beginning to enforce contraceptive equity laws, but cases are still pending in other states ("Women"; "State").

Seventy-seven percent of Americans support birth control pill coverage (Landa 2). Although lawsuits against prejudice health care procedures have been pressed and steps toward gender equity laws have been taken, most insurance plans still discriminate against women. Since prescription drugs are paid for under health care plans, prescription oral contraceptives, which actually add little to health care costs, must also be covered ("U.S." 1). Important for the health of women and regardless of whatever inane reasons insurance policies propose against the coverage, female contraceptives must simply be paid for by insurance companies.

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