Individual health insurance policies for women seeking pregnancy and contraception coverage are hard to find and expensive, reported researcher Rachel Kline, who testified to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee on HB10-1021 this afternoon.

“I spent 15 hours on the phone looking for individual pregnancy and contraceptive coverage,” said Kline. “ Of the nine insurers in the state, two don’t offer coverage and the seven that do wouldn’t discuss the details with me.  A pregnancy/contraception rider costs $400-$500 a month, with $500 deductible and 50 percent coverage.  Any plan has to be bought before conception; otherwise pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition.”

Amended bill takes out contraception mandate

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Frangas (D-Denver) and Beth McCann (D-Denver), mandates that private insurers must provide women seeking individual insurance coverage with pregnancy and contraceptive care.  At the last moment, the bill was amended to take out contraception and mandate only that insurers must offer at least one policy with the pregnancy option.

Physicians and March of Dimes support bill

Physicians from the state’s leading OB-GYN and family practice associations supported the original bill based on the serious health problems that often occur for mothers and babies without prenatal care.  They were joined by March of Dimes.

“Pregnancy accompanied with prenatal care is how we end up with healthy children,” said McCann.  Employees with companies of 15 or more workers receive pregnancy care and contraception through ERISA.  It’s the woman who doesn’t get insurance through work who’s in trouble.

According to Scott Matthews of the March of Dimes, “Colorado has a 12 percent prematurity birth rate, which matches Africa’s.”  Premature babies are 10 times more expensive than babies that go full term, with costs rising up to $1 million, not counting the ongoing costs of permanent physical disability or the tragedy of mortality.

OB-GYN physicians say coverage saves lives, reduces costs

Physician Liza Byers, OB-GYN, stated that there’s “no coverage issue more important than maternity care.  When women buy policies assuming that pregnancy and contraception are covered, and then find out they’re not, it’s devastating.  They can’t get coverage and out of pocket costs are staggering.  The confusion can result in delaying or not receiving prenatal care, which Medicaid considers a must for women.”

Andrew Ross, MD, represented the pro-contraception side of the bill.  Without family planning, women can have as many as 12 to 15 babies in their 30 years of fertility.  “Contraception can also reduce ovarian and uterine cancer.  IUD’s can help with painful menstrual periods, endometriosis, and peri-menopause.”  Ross said that women find it odd and unhelpful that they can have tubal ligation coverage but not an IUD, which is reversible and cheaper and safer. 

Insurance underwriters say coverage will raise rates 20-50%

Charlene Yabbi weighed in with the financial consequences of mandating pregnancy and contraception coverage.  “Insurance can’t be all things to all people,” said Yabbi.  “If pregnancy and contraception coverage are added, excluding pre-existing conditions, premiums may rise as much as 20 percent.  If pre-existing pregnancy is not excluded, rates could go up as much as 50 percent.”  The Committee did not inquire as to how these increases are calculated.

“We do know we’ll see rates go up,” said Yabbi, “and that’s all it takes for some people to decide that any insurance is too expensive.  Insurers are doing what they feel is effective to keep rates down.  The beauty of the current system is that there’s choice.  People don’t have to do business with a carrier that doesn’t offer contraceptives.”

And there’s always condoms

Or people can use condoms.  “Condoms help prevent HIV infections, Chlamydia, and other venereal diseases,” said Yabbi.  “We’re concerned about people not getting the right information about their policies.  We want people to make educated decisions.  We want to do what’s necessary to keep rates down.”

Committee Chair Joe Rice (D-Arap) tried to revise the amendment to re-include contraception in the bill, but Rep. Karen Middleton (D-Aurora) advised that the bill should go to the House as amended.  “I’m always happy to have a woman telling me what’s good for me,” said Rice.  “My intent is to get women coverage for contraception.” 

Some members of the committee are concerned about mandates affecting insurers’ cost of business.  Rep. Larry Liston (R-CO Spgs) suggested that more and more mandates hurt companies.  “Nothing’s free,” said Liston.  “A lot of people are teetering on the edge, deciding whether they can get health care coverage at all.  It’s difficult.”

The bill passed as amended, 10-1, for a second reading in the House chamber. PEN, CCW

This post was published on February 4, 2010. Permalink »