Problem
Inadequate insurance against pregnancy
Other Names:
Failure to insure birth control costsInequities in medical insurance coverage for contraception
Nature:
Birth control pill costs are not covered by many health insurers, who prefer to pay for medically necessary treatments of existing illness, rather than for preventive or precautionary measures for avoiding potential medical costs later. Consequently, American women during their childbearing years pay 68% more than men in out-of-pocket medical expenses, as women buy the Pill. Many poorer women have unwanted pregnancies because they cannot afford to pay for the Pill. Governments in some countries have realized that it saves money to subsidize birth control costs, particularly for teenagers. Background:
Women have largely not protested about the lack of insurance coverage for the Pill. Incidence:
In 1998 one third of American private health insurance agencies did not cover the cost of birth control pills, and half offered no coverage at all for contraception. This contrasts with the fact that 97% of these agencies covered the costs of other prescription drugs, and 85% of them pay for sterilizations. Broader Problems:
Lack of health insurancesInaccessibility of insuranceProhibitive cost of contraceptives Related Problems:
Ignorance of contraception Aggravates:
Maternal mortalityUnwanted pregnanciesIneffective population controlDenial of right of family planning Subject(s):
Medicine → Medicine Medicine → Reproductive system
Commerce → Insurance
Commerce → Purchasing, supplying
Societal Problems → Failure
Societal Problems → Inadequacy
Health Care → Birth control
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
G: Very specific problems Date of last update
11.05.2000 – 00:00 CEST