The Cost of Contraception

eviltwin

pwurple wrote: »

Takes two to produce children. I'm all for having men step up to contraceptive choices, instead of taking all the responsibility on ourselves and letting them off the hook. Vacestomy is considered a far less invasive option than female sterilisation.

Apologies if that was prying.

I can see where you are coming from but I think for a lot of women they feel safer knowing they can't get pregnant than they do if they know their partner can't get them pregnant.

Penny Tration

Neyite wrote: »

So pay privately then.

I fully intend to. :pac: I don't expect it to be free, and I actually agree that contraception should not be free unless it's for medical reasons.

I was merely pointing out that it's not as easy as walking into a GP and getting a referral. Generally you have to save the money for it, and then find a consultant willing to do it.

skallywag

Morag wrote: »

Yes, based on trying to get a tubal ligation for 10 years for myself and trying to assist others through the maze of consultations.

It does indeed sound very concerning that health concerns are not being taken seriously. Do you think that this is something which is unique to the HSE, or can the same also be said of other neighbouring health care systems, say the NHS as our closest comparison point?

ash23

Neyite wrote: »

Anything related to fertility is not covered. If you can argue that it was for medical reasons say, gynae, so for example, if you got the mirena to control heavy periods etc then its a gynae procedure and therefore could theoretically be covered, and the contraceptive element was a bonus on the side.

I had to have a HSG xray, and insurance paid for it because it was ordered as a gynae investigation rather than a fertility one.

Because they do cover the cost of other contraception for example a visit every three months for a contraceptive injection or a repeat pill prescription. They would cover the cost of an initial visit to the GP for fertility problems or for a follow up visit with a GP.

But they won't cover the fee for the tests before the coil is fitted, the cost of fitting the coil or the follow up appointment simply because they don't cover the cost of inserting contraceptive devices.

So they will essentially cover the GP fees involved with fertility and contraception unless you are having a device fitted such as the coil or the implant.

It doesn't really make much sense.

Also, because of medication that I'm on for MS, I cannot get pregnant as there is a risk of birth defects. That is why I changed from the patch (the visits for which were covered under my day to day expenses) to the coil as it's more effective and I need something that is as effective as possible, short of celibacy.

I cannot have more children without either risking their health or my own so I choose not to even though it wasn't an easy choice to make.

So yes, it was adding insult to injury to find out that it wasn't covered when I'm just trying to protect my health.

Neyite

ash23 wrote: »

Because they do cover the cost of other contraception for example a visit every three months for a contraceptive injection or a repeat pill prescription. They would cover the cost of an initial visit to the GP for fertility problems or for a follow up visit with a GP.

But they won't cover the fee for the tests before the coil is fitted, the cost of fitting the coil or the follow up appointment simply because they don't cover the cost of inserting contraceptive devices.

So they will essentially cover the GP fees involved with fertility and contraception unless you are having a device fitted such as the coil or the implant.

It doesn't really make much sense.

Also, because of medication that I'm on for MS, I cannot get pregnant as there is a risk of birth defects. That is why I changed from the patch (the visits for which were covered under my day to day expenses) to the coil as it's more effective and I need something that is as effective as possible, short of celibacy.

I cannot have more children without either risking their health or my own so I choose not to even though it wasn't an easy choice to make.

So yes, it was adding insult to injury to find out that it wasn't covered when I'm just trying to protect my health.

I was lucky in that I knew all along that fertility wasn't covered, so to be honest I was pleasantly surprised when one or two procedures were covered under the 'gynae' reason.

In your case, its NOT a lifestyle choice. Its a very valid health reason and I do agree with covering it for that. The insurers are laughing all the way to the bank by offering complementary therapies on their policies, charging us for them, and not covering stuff people really need and may claim for.

pwurple

Neyite wrote: »

In your case, its NOT a lifestyle choice. Its a very valid health reason and I do agree with covering it for that. The insurers are laughing all the way to the bank by offering complementary therapies on their policies, charging us for them, and not covering stuff people really need and may claim for.

Absolutely agree, in that case it is a health reason.

And "alternative" therapies being covered, when medical ones are not, really gets my goat up. I specifically ask for policies that do not include these, as I'm never ever going to be using them, but no. They have to be included in all policies (and hence I'm subsiding it??). Madness.

ash23

We have our healthcare through our work and they came in basically going on about how they are so marvellous as they cover maternity, day to day and alternative therapies.

When I looked into cover for my annual MRI I was told I was only covered in one specific clinic (private) which my neurologist has told me he won't use as the quality of the MRIs isn't good.

I did get them to agree to cover me in the hospital my Neurologist uses as an exception but just goes to show that they aren't really listening or using medical experts in terms of what to cover and not cover.

The alternative therapy thing really bugs me as I don't need or want them but they're promoting them as this great thing. I don't think my 12 year old child will need baby massage but she will need GP cover.

Like all insurance, it's relying on you NOT to use it I suppose.

ash23

Neyite wrote: »

In your case, its NOT a lifestyle choice. Its a very valid health reason and I do agree with covering it for that. The insurers are laughing all the way to the bank by offering complementary therapies on their policies, charging us for them, and not covering stuff people really need and may claim for.

Technically it is a choice though. Should I choose to have more kids, my neurologist would support that as my choice. I could come off the medication and have a child. But I'd risk a relapse in doing so.
Choosing to not have children because I amn't sure if I'll be physically able to look after them for the next 20 years is a lifestyle choice I made I suppose, just for health reasons.
Pregnancy carries health risks for every woman so I don't see how preventing a pregnancy can be just a lifestyle choice as it's easily arguable that a woman is choosing not to get pregnant for her own health reasons, even if she is a healthy person.

Daisies

Ilyana 2.0 wrote: »

And, as an aside, a STD check costs €80, which definitely won't induce students to get them done regularly.
.

Just as an aside and on this, when I requested an STD check at the Galway Family Planning clinic they told me about the free screening that can be availed of.
http://www.yoursexualhealth.ie/inner_page/sti_gum_clinic/

Dial Hard

Daisies wrote: »

Just as an aside and on this, when I requested an STD check at the Galway Family Planning clinic they told me about the free screening that can be availed of.
http://www.yoursexualhealth.ie/inner_page/sti_gum_clinic/

Haven't been to any of those clinics but I know the James' one has spectacularly high demand and there are queues from very early in the morning on the days they're run, with only a certain number of people seen each time.

As an aside, Lloyd's Online Doctor offer home STI screening for €50 (chlamydia & gonorrhea) or €75 (chlamydia, gonorrhea & HIV). Obviously it's not a full screening but people tend to know what they're at risk for and will make a decision accordingly. It's still a good bit cheaper than most GPs and doesn't require taking any time off work or college.

princess-lala

Until February I had paid for all contraception for 10 odd years. Due to various medical reasons I now have a medical card.

One medication I am on daily is €144 a week, now I know you pay that monthly under the drugs payment scheme but even €144 a month and fortnightly doctors visits I just could not afford.

I very recently had the mirena fitted due to endometriosis, when I was researching it I genuinely couldn't believe the price of it.

I had it fitted under general anaesthetic because I have no children.

But now I have been prescribed the pill too. Now this pill I was on before and from what I remember its only about €3 a month anyway.

I find doctors in Ireland to be expensive but what can you do. If you're sick you're sick you need to see one.

Also about the pharmacies and cheaper meds - where I live there are two pharmacies, one gives the cheapest option of everything. The other doesn't stock the generic option unless you ask for it.

Stheno

Jingle_Balls wrote: »

I fully intend to. :pac: I don't expect it to be free, and I actually agree that contraception should not be free unless it's for medical reasons.

I was merely pointing out that it's not as easy as walking into a GP and getting a referral. Generally you have to save the money for it, and then find a consultant willing to do it.

skallywag wrote: »

It does indeed sound very concerning that health concerns are not being taken seriously. Do you think that this is something which is unique to the HSE, or can the same also be said of other neighbouring health care systems, say the NHS as our closest comparison point?

As an addendum to the above, for about ten years I have been seeing a gynaecologist who runs a womens health clinic for contraceptive health.

She's strict about medical guidelines (Dexa scans/cervical checks etc) but also open, and I mentioned tubal ligation when I was in my mid thirties a few years ago, and she was open to it

She is not Irish but works within the health system, which could explain it, she has learned to work the system?

Novella

I moved to the US a few months ago and I actually had my mam send my Pill to me in the post after ordering my prescription online. I knew my blood pressure was fine because it gets checked at college a lot (study in a healthcare field, we check bp for experiments on stress etc.)

I just presumed that it would cost a fortune to buy it over here and figured the cheapest option was having it posted from Ireland.

I got married a couple of days ago and after the wedding we were given a family planning guide. It turns out contraception is free over here!!! I was given a big list of doctors and family planning centres I can go to where I can get contraception of my choice free of charge. I think that's amazing. I know people complain about healthcare in the US all the time and certainly, a lot of it is about what insurance you have, but so far any of the services I've availed of have been impeccable. Contraception has no charge regardless of insurance btw.

It never even crossed my mind that the Pill could be something I wouldn't have to be out of pocket for.

AnnyHallsal

Does anyone know how much Cerazette costs in Ireland? I was advised to take it because it doesn't affect blood pressure.

tinz18

I think I'm paying in the region of €12-13 per pack but it's slightly cheaper per pack if you get the 6 months at once.

Penny Tration

I'm paying 13.72 per month for Cerazette, in Lloyd's pharmacy.

It's just under 12 euro per month in Donaghmede Pharmacy, but too much hassle for me to go there :pac:

RDM_83 again

Herself has used Lloyds online doctor a few times and I think it cuts down the price of GP visit significantly

In terms of condoms the price you pay in the shop here is pretty crazy if your going to be using them long term, its worth looking on www.lovehoney.co.uk they deliver cheaply/free to the ROI and the boxes are discrete, just make sure your partner likes the brand before buying bucket loads because the even the standard "fit" can vary a lot between brands.
NHS Freedom Shop is incredibly cheap but it requires a UK delivery address (can't vouch for this since never used it)