(( VaginaPagina ))

Yes, it's for United Healthcare.

From:

OMG! No Nuvaring????! :(

From:

frolicnaked.livejournal.com

Sadly, what I've found is that a number of insurance providers consider Nuva Ring a "lifestyle" or "convenience" medication, as there are technically other types of hormonal contraception (e.g., most brands of pills) that fill the same basic function (contraception) for fewer dollars.

When I was on it, my insurance made the claim that the only substantive benefit of Nuva Ring was the "convenience" of only needing to remember the ring twice a month (once out, once in) rather than needing to remember a pill 21 times a month. They did not acknowledge -- when I made my first and only** appeal -- that: 1) NuvaRing is in itself a unique combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin unavailable in any other brand or generic; 2) for some people, the delivery mechanism (bypassing the GI system) was a significant contributor to efficacy; 3) for some people, the dosing regimen (21 days in, 7 days out) was a significant contributor to effectiveness. But, I mean, 1-3 are all true, and I sympathize.

** I did not love NuvaRing, so when they rejected my first appeal, I was like, "So... genericpills?"

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Thanks for keeping me informed!:) I've gone through most generic/brand BCP and just about all of them give me terrible side effects. Nuvaring kinda saved me from all that. I don't have any issues with it myself. I have an insurance that's free through the state right now, and I'm worried that the new policies will affect me in a negative way. :/

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charissa.livejournal.com

hopefully the nuvaring will be covered soon.

I just moved from Canada to the US and was shocked how the price tag went from $18 to $84 a ring. WTF - something is not right with US prescription pricing.

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Agreed, it's fucking highway robbery. Also the patent doesn't go up until 2018 or something so no hope for a generic any time soon. -___-

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No, I agree. It's not right at all.

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Yeah, but from what I understand insurance companies WILL eventually have to cover *all* contraceptives without copay when this part of the reform is implemented (not quite sure when that is...). It seems that some are just voluntarily transitioning now beforehand.

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"Contraceptives are part of a package of women’s preventive health care services under the Affordable Care Act -- including screening for diabetes, counseling about sexually transmitted diseases and breast feeding support -- that must be provided without deductibles or co-pays in all new policies beginning Aug. 1" (http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/February/27/five-questions-health-law-mandate-birth-control.aspx)

I'm not sure what "all new policies" means...like, my policy just got renewed, so maybe I have to wait until next summer when it is renewed again to get free BC? That part's confusing to me. (And anyway, I won't be getting it because my employer is a religious exception or whatever, boo.)

In any case, *something* kicks into effect on Aug. 1!

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It's confusing for me too. Having it go into effect once someone renews their policy does seem like it would be an easier transition on the insurance company, but I don't know either.

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"I'm not sure what "all new policies" means...like, my policy just got renewed, so maybe I have to wait until next summer when it is renewed again to get free BC?"

Yes, that's what it means. Policies that start on or after August 1 will have to include the contraceptives and preventive care without copay or deductible.

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Cool. I wish my employer wasn't exempted. Boohoooo. :(

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leigh710.livejournal.com

I need it because oral pills give me almost daily migraines. My doctor sent in information to the insurance company to let them know if was a medical necessity and not for my convenience.
They still don't cover it at all and now I have to get the doctor's office to call in once a year to get it "approved" since it's for a medical reason. Seriously? Punished and no help in price! argh!

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becca jane rubinfeld (from livejournal.com)

I am going threw this right now with my privet insurance company (Regency out of WA state). I wish some one could help explain my legal rights under the affordable healthcare act. As far as I understand its all FDA approved contraceptives including vaginal rings, if a generic brand is available then that's the one my insurance company can chooses to provided me for free. But as there are not generic brand vaginal rings only the Nuvaring I think they have to pay for it. They say its not "preferred by them" but its preferred by me, how my body feels and what my doctor recommended. I have been on the pill before for years and some of the side affects I was getting were to much for me so I switched to the Nuvaring and have been happy. I am fighting them on the issue, wish me luck.

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Good luck! Keep us up to date. ;)

From:

becca jane rubinfeld (from livejournal.com)

An update:
Good News as my insurance company got back to me and have apologized for the confusion and have agreed to cover my Nuva Ring 100%. I just picked up my first fee one the other day at the pharmacy and it felt like such a relief to have my my privet insurance company finally pay for something. This will really help ease my mouthy budget saving me 85 dollars a mouth! I felt respected and taken seriously as an independent women who knows her own body best by being able to pick my choice method of contraception.

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sweetchild92.livejournal.com

That's great they include emergency contraception and diaphragms as well!

They should go all out and cover all methods :D

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I thought that under the Affordable Care Act insurance companies are supposed to cover *all* FDA-approved methods of contraception that require a prescription (starting August 1, 2012 or when your plan renews after that date). I don't understand why United Healthcare is only covering specific brands and specific types.

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sweetchild92.livejournal.com

This is my understanding as well, and why I'm confused as to their only covering certain methods (I'm a little miffy at them for not covering LARCs, and as someone who cannot take the pill correctly for more than a week, I'm also glad this is not my insurance co. lol).

Maybe this is just for now?

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Might be because that part of healthcare reform hasn't been implemented yet and so they are starting the transition now before they are forced to. Not sure if that's true but I know a lot of insurance companies did that with other aspects of the reform. They might not be done yet.

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They aren't implementing it early, though. The changes are going into effect in August, which is when that portion of the law goes into effect.

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Well then I'm confused too.

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tigrrr1313.livejournal.com

From what I can tell, insurance companies do not have to cover brand names if there is a generic equivalent. They do have to make accommodations if there is no generic equivalent or if a doctor deems it medically necessary for you to take the brand name. At least I think that's what this link (https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2012/02/28/a-look-at-the-federal-mandate-to-cover-contraceptives/) is saying.

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That doesn't surprise me, though it is disappointing. But I don't understand why the ring, IUDs, implant, etc. aren't being covered.

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eavanmoore.livejournal.com

From the United Healthcare FAQ linked to above:

How will the new changes affect my pharmacy
coverage?

To satisfy this requirement, we have created a new list
of Tier 1 contraceptives on the Advantage PDL, listed on the
other side of this page. These contraceptives will be available at
no cost to members on both standard and high-deductible or
consumer-driven health (CDH) plans.

What is UnitedHealthcare doing to manage the cost
of this coverage?

The health reform law specifically permits health insurance
plans to use reasonable medical management techniques such
as tiering to manage the new preventive services. Specifically,
UnitedHealthcare has determined that contraceptives with the
same progestin are equivalent to each other. Therefore, each unique
progestin contraceptive medication will be represented in Tier 1,
making sure women have access to a variety of contraceptives at no
cost-share. Other contraceptives will be covered in
higher-cost tiers at the applicable plan cost-share.

There are 26 options in Tier 1, 9 in Tier 2, and 13 in Tier 3. "Count is based on the chemical or each unique product represented; there may be multiple medication names for each."

I'd comment on this, but it's not a good idea to introduce violent impulses to VP threads.

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I read that part before but I don't quite understand it. I know it explains why they don't include all brands of the pill, but I don't see how that excludes LARCs? Unless they're saying that any methods containing the same progestin are "equivalent", which is completely absurd. Mirena isn't equivalent to Alesse just because they both use levonorgestrel.

Or maybe I'm reading it wrong? I'm just not sure.

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eavanmoore.livejournal.com

That seems to be what they're saying. It doesn't explain why they're not covering the copper IUD, though.

I mean, the answer is obviously that they're milking the caveat for all it's worth and assuming their customers will be too confused to complain, and powerless in any case.

... but the basis for judgment is non-obvious. I have been trying to get substantive information out of Google and healthcare.gov for the last half-hour, and it's ridiculously difficult.

From:

im-an-aaangel.livejournal.com

I've got United HealthCare too so.. /join happydance! I actually stopped taking the pill for a long time because they kept doing weird things with the prices of the brands and it was driving me up a wall.

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ticktockman.livejournal.com

If I can get political here ... there are two main parties in the upcoming November elections in the U.S. One party (Democrats) instituted the requirement that insurance companies fully cover contraception. The other party (Republicans) fought against it and slut-shamed women who spoke in favor. That's a factor you should consider when you vote.

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Thanks for saying this. I don't usually get political on here, but it's important for us all to realize that this awesome happy wonderful access to BC is due DIRECTLY to the affordable care act, which many politicians are working to repeal. In fact, the House of Rep's just voted to repeal it! So we all need to make sure we know who we're voting for, whether they support the ACA, and also to speak loudly about the benefits we are experiencing!

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Well, no one "needs" to do anything. But if you like what the ACA is doing for you, keep in mind that it's in danger!

From:

frolicnaked.livejournal.com

VP is not a space for political debate. As such, making political statements (e.g., making blanket statements about what different political parties are doing), as well as instructing people to consider those issues when voting, aren't appropriate in the community.

Because of that, we'll be freezing this thread.

If you'd like to get in touch with us about this, you can do so via email (vpteam@vaginapagina.com) or by posting in

contact_vp.

Thanks,
Tori
For the VP Team

contact_vp

From:

vertbio.livejournal.com

IUD's aren't on there :(

Oh well. I was able to get my Mirena for free anyway through California's Family Pact Program.

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It's about damn time too. Our healthcare sucks, I don't care if it's "the best in the world," if no one can get to it, what's the point? The ACA is a good start, got a lot more work in the future.

From:

dial-zero.livejournal.com

It's definitely not the best in the world; most of the people who make that statement blindly believe that the US is the best in the world at everything.

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I think that when they say that, they mean something more like we have the best doctors in the world? While that may not be completely accurate, we do have some amazing medical centers/doctors - though obviously it doesn't matter if you can't afford healthcare, or if you become bankrupt due to medical bills.

(Though I'm sure there are people who actually do believe that the US has the best healthcare system in the world. In which case, I agree with you that these people probably think the US is the best at everything.)

Edited Date: 2012-07-14 11:24 pm (UTC)

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Says the person making blind statements about strangers on the internet.

And yes, it is. Do some research. We have the best labs, best research facilities, students come from Europe and Asia come to attend our universities. I work in healthcare. But there's a big difference between quality and access. What's the point of all this badass, advanced science in healthcare when very very few actually have access? If it's for millionaires, it's pointless. In that sense, South American nations have far better healthcare than we do.

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That being said, since you think I think America is so great at everything, let me clear your blind misconception - I hate my country, its people, its leaders and everything it stands for. It has no hope and if it were to survive in any way for the future, it must be ripped apart from the very foundations in order to start all over. Fuck America. There. Got that stereotype out of your head now?

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"Most people...." hahahahaah the generalizations people make. Always fallacious, always without a grain of evidence. Always backed by bias.

Edited Date: 2012-07-15 02:34 pm (UTC)

From:

dial-zero.livejournal.com

Whoa whoa whoa. I work in healthcare too, and I have many family members that do. I was chiming in and agreeing with your post, and I agree with everything you said about access. Did I word my post wrong or something? I never accused you of being one of the "America is #1 at everything" people.

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