CCW blogged at Destined to Be the Crazy Cat Woman for years before leaving blogging behind to chase the glamorous life of Facebooking and raising chickens. – Liz
I thought you might appreciate my tale of trying to get birth control for Teen L. She has insurance through her dad, it is military insurance so there are few providers of anything close by. There was exactly one female gynecologist on the list. I called to make an appointment and was told I needed to get a referral. I truly thought the most annoying part of this would be asking my ex to call Tricare. If only.
Birth control is covered in all forms but you need to be 18 to see a gynecologist or sexually active if younger. That’s the “problem”, she’s not having sex but her relationship is becoming more physical. I then called her pediatrician but he doesn’t prescribe birth control for any reason. (to which I asked why they see teenagers if they can’t be comprehensive). They referred me to the practice I had already called.
I called Planned Parenthood after that and 10 minutes later she has a non-examination appointment to get the Pill. Cost? $40 fee, $10 for the pills. Easy as pie.
I love Planned Parenthood, have used them myself but how fucking stupid is it that an insured teenager can’t get birth control before they need it because they’re being responsible? I was so angry for so many reasons.
And this is why Planned Parenthood and other organizations like them are so important. And also, hello pediatricians! You need to face up to the fact that some of your patients are on their way to being sexually active. Do you really want to have to deliver pre-natal services to your patients? – Liz
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kathy a.
May 23, 2012 at 9:36 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
CCW, i’m glad you found the solution, and support PP as often as possible.
but that is some seriously messed up stuff about insurance coverage. and really, it would have been better to have an actual appointment so she could, like, ask questions and stuff.
ccw
May 23, 2012 at 9:54 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kathy- she will have an appointment with a doctor at PP. She won’t have to have a physical exam though. I was just furious that insurance won’t cover something like that and her pediatrician was useless.
She goes next week. I intend to donate while I’m there.
Yankee, Transferred
May 24, 2012 at 3:55 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
First of all, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT KID L IS THAT GROWN??
kathy a.
May 24, 2012 at 9:48 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
i wonder if a family practice might be more appropriate for kid L than a pediatrician or an ob/gyn? our old practice saw all of us during most of my kids’ childhoods. they handled pediatric stuff; they handled my pap smears and birth control needs. the insurance situation sucks; poor kid L is falling in the gaps. boo on that pediatrician, anyway.
but PP always does come through. my student health care coverage began with some semi-retired guy doctors who saw people on campus — no way was i going to deal with personal medical needs in that setting.