[FreeTally]

In terms of economics, not covering contraceptives would raise insurance costs because of:

So you are trying to tell me that insurance is high right now because insurers can refuse to cover contraceptives?

[Lorianne]

No, that would be true if women (and families including men) refused to USE contraceptives unless they were covered by insurance. But they don't. Insurance companies know women and families (including men) will buy them becuase it is cheaper than having a large number of kids to support.

Keep in mind contraceptives are NOT just for women. Men have a stake in them too or else they would have to support 7 or 8 kids instead of 2 or 3. The insurance companies know this, so they don't cover the cost. They know women and couples will pay out-of-pocket for contraceptives, so they don't have to worry about paying for the cost of maternity care and more kids on the rolls.

However, the same would be true of Viagra. If insurance companies didn't cover it, it would still be a very profitable drug as evidenced by the lucrative black market for the little blue pill. The insurance companies are in cahoots with the drug companies to make a profit of of Viagra (which only one company makes to the cost is relatively high) vs. oral contraceptives which many companies make so they are competitively priced.