How Can Women Who Work For Religious Institutions Pay For Birth Control
Not every insurer is required to follow the ACA birth control coverage mandates. Religious institutions, non-profit religious organizations, and religious schools are exempt from covering birth control. Women whose insurance is through a religious employer are required to pay for their birth control out-of-pocket. However, it is possible for women to cover the cost of birth control fully through a third-party insurer.
How Can Uninsured Women Access Low
Women who are unemployed, or who make below a certain annual yearly income may be eligible for Medicaid, a program designed to provide health coverage for low-income individuals. Most Planned Parenthood clinics accept Medicaid insurance plans for birth control and offer a sliding scale fee based on household size and income. Additionally, Pandia Health established the Birth Control Fund to provide financial assistance to women in need of birth control.
Medicaid And Planned Parenthood
Cuts to Medicaid significantly affect Planned Parenthood patients, nearly half of whom get their health care through Medicaid.
Every year, 2.4 million people rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for essential health care services, like birth control and lifesaving cancer screenings. Many of these patients particularly women of color and people in rural or medically underserved areas are covered by Medicaid and would have nowhere else to turn to for care, if patients are blocked from using Medicaid to access care at Planned Parenthood.
- States like Texas have suffered serious public health consequences after communities lost access to Planned Parenthood.
- After Texas forfeited its Medicaid family-planning program and created a state-funded program that excluded Planned Parenthood and other similar providers, Texans access to womens health services declined drastically with as many as 44,890 fewer women accessing health care.
- Despite the Texas programs failure, a previous administration put federal dollars back into the program in January 2020. This move upended longstanding federal law. Before, the federal government refused to fund state Medicaid programs that aimed to take away the right of Medicaid patients to get care from the reproductive health care provider of their choice.
Read Also: Can You Donate Plasma When Pregnant
Can An Uninsured Woman Enroll In Marketplace Coverage Upon Giving Birth
Maybe. If the baby is eligible for Marketplace coverage, then the baby qualifies for an SEP as a new dependent. In such instances, the regulations will also permit an SEP for the new mother, as someone who has gained a dependent through birth.
WOMEN ALREADY ENROLLED IN FULL-SCOPE OR EXPANSION MEDICAID
If You May Qualify For Medicaid Or Childrens Health Insurance Program
- Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children, and pregnant women.
- Eligibility for these programs depends on your household size, income, and citizenship or immigration status. Specific rules and benefits vary by state.
- You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP any time during the year, not just during the annual Open Enrollment Period.
- You can apply 2 ways: Directly through your state agency, or by filling out a Marketplace application and selecting that you want help paying for coverage.
- Learn how to apply for Medicaid and CHIP.
Also Check: Can I Use Vagisil Wash While Pregnant
What Forms Of Birth Control Does Health Insurance Cover
Under the Affordable Care Act, all health insurance plans must provide coverage for FDA-approved forms of birth control , including the following methods:
- Hormone birth control pills
- Female and male sterilization
While all of these FDA-approved forms of birth control should be covered by your health insurance plan , again, its important to note that you should contact your health insurance carrier before you have a prescription filled or schedule a procedure. Every plan is different and the forms of contraception that each one covers differ.
Will A Marketplace Health Plan Also Cover A Newborn
Yes. The ACAs EHB requirement mandates coverage of maternity and newborn care. Newborn care covers childbirth and immediate care for the baby after birth. The specifics of this coverage will vary by state and by each individual plan, but all women in Marketplace coverage must also enroll their baby in coverage soon after birth.
If the newborn is eligible for Marketplace coverage, then the parents can choose to add the baby to the familys existing Marketplace plan or choose a new Marketplace plan for the baby. If they opt for the latter, they can enroll the baby into a new Marketplace plan at any metal tier. However, when enrolling a newborn into Marketplace coverage, other members of the household are generally not permitted to change their existing Marketplace coverage.
Don’t Miss: Nutraburst While Pregnant
Medicaid And Work Requirements
Medicaid work requirements are another way that politicians take critical health coverage away from people with low incomes. Prior to COVID-19, these discriminatory requirements caused thousands of people to lose their Medicaid coverage. Several states have adopted, and more states tried to adopt, Medicaid work requirements.
Medicaid work requirements do not help people to find employment and are ineffective in lowering unemployment. Work requirements also push people off of Medicaid. Heres how:
-
Work requirement policies force people to work and adhere to frequent, burdensome, detailed reporting in order for them to obtain and keep their Medicaid coverage.
-
Many people whod lose Medicaid coverage because of work requirements areactually working or trying to work, but have irregular hours, cant navigate reporting procedures, or simply do not know about the new requirements.
-
On top of this,research confirms that Medicaid coverage itself helps individuals to obtain or maintain employment.
Work requirements for Medicaid block access to needed health care and services, particularly for women. Almost two-thirds of those who could lose Medicaid coverage due to work requirements are women. This stems, in part, from the fact that women are more likely to provide informal and undervalued caregiving or have low-wage jobs that do not provide health care coverage.
Cost And Insurance Coverage
More than one half of the 37 million U.S. women who needed contraceptive services in 2010 were in need of publicly funded services, either because they had an income below 250% of the federal poverty level or because they were younger than 20 years 8. One in four women in the United States who obtain contraceptive services seek these services at publicly funded family planning clinics 21. The number of women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services increased by 17%, or nearly three million women, from 2000 to 2010 8. Expanding access to publicly funded family planning services produces cost savings by reducing unintended pregnancy. In 2010, federal and state governments saved an estimated $7.6 billion because of contraceptive services provided at publicly funded centers 8. As the ACA goes into effect, obstetriciangynecologists can be strong advocates for continued expansion of affordable contraceptive access, which has been shown to be cost neutral at worst and cost saving at best 2223.
Other insurance barriers include limits on the number of contraceptive products dispensed. Data show that provision of a years supply of contraceptives is cost effective and improves adherence and continuation rates 27. Insurance plan restrictions prevent 73% of women from receiving more than a single months supply of contraception at a time, yet most women are unable to obtain contraceptive refills on a timely basis 262829.
Recommended Reading: Can You Donate Plasma When Pregnant
What If You Dont Have Health Insurance
If you dont have Marketplace or employer-sponsored health insurance, or Medicaid, there are ways that you can get birth control. Planned Parenthood and other similar womans reproductive health organizations, do offer contraception. Planned Parenthood provides no- or low-cost healthcare services for women, including annual exams, STD screenings, birth control, and assistance with pregnancy. If you need birth control and dont have health insurance, this organization which has offices in all states will help you find the best option to meet your needs.
The cost of birth control without health insurance will vary and is largely dependent on the form that you choose. Generally, hormonal birth control pills are the most cost-effective theyre also highly reliable. The NuvaRing, a contraceptive thats inserted vaginally, is just as effective as the pill, but it usually costs more. Implants are also very effective at preventing pregnancy however, they tend to have the highest out-of-pocket cost.
Unintended Pregnancy In The United States And The Case For Contraceptive Access
The College supports womens right to decide whether to have children, to determine the number and spacing of their children, and to have the information, education, and access to health services to make those choices 4. Women must have access to reproductive health care, including the full range of contraceptive choices, to fulfill these rights.
Recommended Reading: Lasik During Pregnancy
If You Have Medicaid Or Chip
- If found eligible during your pregnancy, youll be covered for 60 days after you give birth. After 60 days, you may no longer qualify. Your state Medicaid or CHIP agency will notify you if your coverage is ending. You can enroll in a Marketplace plan during this time to avoid a break in coverage.
- If you have Medicaid when you give birth, your newborn is automatically enrolled in Medicaid coverage, and theyll remain eligible for at least a year.
How Much Do Birth Control Pills Cost
Prices vary depending on whether you have health insurance, or if you qualify for Medicaid or other government programs that cover the cost of birth control pills. For most brands, 1 pill pack lasts for 1 month, and each pack can cost anywhere from $0-$50. But theyre totally free with most health insurance plans, or if you qualify for some government programs. In most states, you can even get birth control pills prescribed and mailed to you using the Planned Parenthood Direct app.
You may also need to pay for an appointment with a doctor or nurse to get a prescription for the pill. This visit can cost anywhere from $35$250. But under the Affordable Care Act , most insurance plans must cover doctors visits that are related to birth control. Learn more about health insurance and birth control.
If youre worried about cost, check with your local Planned Parenthood health center to find out if they can hook you up with birth control that fits your budget. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get birth control starting at $20/pack using the Planned Parenthood Direct app.
Read Also: Vagisil While Pregnant
Is Birth Control Free
Sometimes. Depending on your health insurance, you may be able to access birth control for free. Should your insurance require a co-payment, this could be as little as fifteen dollars. If birth control is not made affordable by your health insurance coverage, organizations like Planned Parenthood and Pandia Health can provide low cost birth control and sliding scale payments for birth control to those who qualify.
Who Is Eligible
Unborn children of pregnant women who:
- Have a household income greater than 198 percent of the federal poverty level and at or below 202 percent of the FPL.
- Have a household income at or below 202 percent of the FPL, but do not qualify for Medicaid because of immigration status.
Women who are U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants with household income at or below 198 percent of the FPL may be eligible for coverage under Medicaid’s Pregnant Women program.
You May Like: Is It Safe To Take Tums While Pregnant
How Do I Apply
First, go to Washington Healthplanfinder to see if you are eligible for Apple Health coverage or a subsidized Qualified Health Plan. If you’re eligible, sign up for one of those plans. They provide full health care coverage, which includes family planning.
If you’re a teen you may be eligible for Apple Health coverage on your own. Call Washington Healthplanfinder at 1-855-923-4633 to find out if you’re eligible. Read more information about health coverage for teens and young adults.
If you’re not eligible for Apple Health, make an informed choice to waive your right to apply for Apple Health, or you need confidential services, contact your Apple Health provider and apply for benefits over the phone or in-person with an eligible Apple Health provider.
You can also apply by fax , email , telephone with HCA or mail without provider assistance. In that case, you should securely transmit or mail the Application for Family Planning Only services. Family Planning Only programs services are available through any Apple Health provider.
Does Private Insurance Also Cover A Newborn
It depends. Small group employer-sponsored plans must include the EHBs, including maternity and newborn care, but large group and self-insured employer-sponsored plans are exempt from this requirement. While the requirement for newborn care covers childbirth and immediate care following birth, women must enroll their babies in coverage soon after birth.
Also Check: Can You Use Vagisil During Pregnancy
Other Hormonal Birth Control Methods
Other hormonal methods of birth control include:
- Oral contraception: There are a few different types of oral birth control pills available, including a combination pill, which uses a combination of estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy, and a progestin-only pill. A person must take it around the same time every day to prevent pregnancy. These pills are approximately
What Services Are Available Through This Program
- Physical exams which may include a pap smear, breast exam, and STD testing
- Family planning counseling and pregnancy test
- Birth control supplies including condoms
- Colposcopies and treatment for STDs which are limited to a six week period after a family planning exam, counseling visit, or supply visit
- Related pharmaceuticals and laboratory test
Please noteAll Services are CONFIDENTIAL
Read Also: Can You Donate Plasma While Pregnant
Getting The Most Coverage And Cost Savings
To keep your birth control costs as low as possible, make sure to select the right plan for your needs.
Talk with your healthcare provider, insurance company, or benefits administrator to be sure the medications you need are covered under the plans youre considering.
Its also important to check your plans requirements before you choose a birth control method.
The Principle Of Comprehensive Coverage
This varied landscape of health insurance coverage and requirements results in inconsistent and incomplete coverage for contraception. Most plans do not fully satisfy the components of comprehensive coverage in terms of the scope of services covered, the financial and other restrictions allowed, the choice of providers offered or the protections from interference that are in place.
Scope of Services
Everyone should have insurance coverage for the complete range of contraceptive methods, services and counseling, so they can choose a method that works best for them and thereby use it most effectively. This coverage should include every distinct method as categorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , a list that ranges from surgical sterilization to prescription birth control pills to over-the-counter condoms and spermicides.14 It should also include provision of information and counseling about contraceptive decision making, the benefits and drawbacks of each method, how to use a given method and how to get follow-up questions answered. And it should encompass all services needed to begin, continue or stop using a particular method, such as insertion and removal of an IUD, and any tests needed, such as a blood pressure check, before prescribing a specific method.
Coverage Limitations
Access to Providers
External Interference
Oversight and Enforcement
Recommended Reading: Can You Donate Plasma After Having A Baby
Is Birth Control Covered For Men In Health Insurance Plans
No. Only women’s birth control is covered. Health insurance companies do not have to pay for male birth control, such as condoms and vasectomies. In some states, Medicaid provides family planning services and supplies to eligible men and women under the state plan. Contact your local state Medicaid agency to see if you qualify for coverage for family planning services. In addition, some states require plans to cover vasectomies.
If You Dont Have Health Coverage
- Health coverage makes it easier to get the medical check-ups and screening tests to help keep both you and your baby healthy during pregnancy.
- If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a life event like moving or losing other coverage, you may be able to enroll in a Marketplace health plan right now. Being pregnant doesnt make you eligible, but the birth of a child does.
- Create an account now to apply for Marketplace coverage through the Open Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period. If you select the option to get help paying for coverage on your application, youll be asked if youre pregnant. Reporting your pregnancy may help you and your family members get the most affordable coverage.
- If you dont qualify for a Special Enrollment Period right now, youll be eligible to apply within 60 days of your childs birth. You can also enroll in 2021 coverage during the next Open Enrollment Period this fall.
- If eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, your coverage can begin at any time.
You May Like: Is Vagisil Safe During Pregnancy
Will Insurance Pay For Birth Control
Before the Affordable Care Act was established, health insurance plans were not required to cover any form of birth control. Thankfully, after Congress passed the ACA in 2010, insurance companies were required to cover all FDA-approved forms of birth control in their plans with no co-pay and no deductible. This allowed 62.8 million women to receive birth control insurance coverage with no out-of-pocket costs.
Through their insurance plans, people with uteri in the United States now have access to at least one method of birth control. Knowing which types of birth control are covered under the ACA is a crucial component in understanding what your options are. Read on to learn more about insurance and birth control so you can make informed decisions about your reproductive health, and help others navigate this topic.
