Health Spending Account
So I just found out a while ago when I was at London Drugs getting my prescriptions filled that BC and vaccines (I got the hepatitis A shot) are not covered under my extended health benefits. Why, I’m not exactly sure. BC seems like something that should definitely be covered.
But anyway, I ended up paying $101.99 for a 3-month supply of BC and my Hep A vaccine. :(
Then I remembered the company offers a $250 health spending account, and I would be able to claim my $101.99 through that and get reimbursed. Going forward, $250/year will more than cover the cost of my BC, and all other drugs that I would need are 100% covered under my plan.
Unfortunate that the one prescription drug I need isn’t covered, but I’m glad that there’s the flexibility of the health spending account so I won’t have to end up paying for them in the end.
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I never understood why some insurances won't cover the preventative birth control methods, but will cover all costs associated with pregnancy up to and including termination. Just doesn't make sense.
Krystal,
BC is almost never covered, in any of its forms. I don't know if it's because BC is voluntary (I know, NOT) or because it comes in so many forms, prescription, non-prescription, permanent. Where would the line be drawn?
In all of my previous jobs where I had health care, BC was always covered. And of the friends I’ve talked to who have FT jobs with benefits, theirs is covered too. Maybe it’s not normal, and my previous jobs and my friends, we were all just lucky. And that would be a shame.
I remember going through a debacle similar to this. My plan would cover BC pills no problem, but no other forms of birth control (the patch, the Norplant, an IUD…) it was very odd.
In all of my previous jobs where I had health care, BC was always covered. And of the friends I\\\’ve talked to who have FT jobs with benefits, theirs is covered too. Maybe it\\\’s not normal, and my previous jobs and my friends, we were all just lucky. And that would be a shame.
In Canada? Really? That really is strange.
I've never heard of birth control not being covered. I have been insured by at least 5 different companies, and all covered at least 80% of any birth control of my choosing, whether that be pills, shot, IUD, whatever.
Maybe the founders of those insurance companies have a religious agenda :P
Me neither. I think it's really strange that it's not covered. I've never heard of a benefits package not including it. I'm going to double check with HR just to make sure.
Me neither. I think it's really strange that it's not covered. I've never heard of a benefits package not including it. I'm going to double check with HR just to make sure.
At my old job my plan covered "oral" contraceptives but nothing else, so my BC of choice (Nuvaring) came out of my pocket. It costs about $20.00/month. Even though I knew I could get BC pills covered, I refused to make the change. NR is the best thing I have found and I'd rather pay $20.00/month for what I want instead of getting what didn't quite work for me for free. And if BC isn't covered at all, fear not, it is less expensive to pay for BC out of pocket than to raise a baby! :-)
My recent post OSAP: Customizing Repayment Terms
I work in insurance, and yes, there are a number of plans out there that will not pay for birth control. Thank goodness I have never been employed where the plan doesn't cover it. I don't know the rationale for it though. I see plans that pay for Viagra and Cialis but don't pay for BC!! How does that make sense?
There is quite a few plans that do not cover birth control so im not surprised. I would say most do that I see bt probably like 20-30% dont. Esp a lot of the plans offered by the community colleges.
My plan is amazing, it covers all meds at 90%.
I don't have BC coverage, so my gynecologist gives me free sample packs for the year when I go for my exam. Drug companies are really big on offering samples to doctors, in hopes that they will routinely recommend their drugs over others. If you ask your gyno or GP for samples, you can pretty much guarantee you'll get them.
I don't have BC coverage, so my gynecologist gives me free sample packs for the year when I go for my exam. Drug companies are really big on offering samples to doctors, in hopes that they will routinely recommend their drugs over others. If you ask your gyno or GP for samples, you can pretty much guarantee you'll get them.
I don't have BC coverage, so my gynecologist gives me free sample packs for the year when I go for my exam. Drug companies are really big on offering samples to doctors, in hopes that they will routinely recommend their drugs over others. If you ask your gyno or GP for samples, you can pretty much guarantee you'll get them.
You can also check with community sexual health clinics. I used to get my pills for $5 a month from the clinic in my hometown. They also offered Nuvarings and other things at discounted prices.
I would actually never want my employer to know what medication/perscriptions I take… BC is non of their business. Do they get these kinds of details or just an untargeted receipt? (Have no idea how that would work but I just think your employee has no business knowing what you take. That would be way beyond my comfort zone.)
The Health Spending Account is a benefit that is done through the health care provider, so the employer wouldn’t have access to that kind of information. :)
Ok, then I would be ok with it (perhaps, who sits in the health spending account?) — I realize that living in Germany has widened my views for propaganda and spies… lots of funky stuff going down here…
The Health Spending Account is a benefit that is done through the health care provider, so the employer wouldn\\\’t have access to that kind of information. :)