Chemical composition of Mifepristone
Questions have been raised as to whether or not proposed health care reform will pay for abortions. Because there is no actual bill ready to be passed into law, it is premature to say what will or will not be covered.
A second question has been asked as to whether the abortion pill would be covered. The best way to address this is to advise readers as to what current insurers do about the abortion pill.
Mifepristone is sold in the U.S. by Danco Laboratories under the brand name Mileptrx. It is a synthetic steroid used to produce a pharmaceutical abortion.
Originally developed in France and identified as RU-486, the pill was approved by the F.D.A. for use in the U.S. in September 2000. It is legal and available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico. It can only be obtained with a prescription from a qualified physician.
Because this pill is not considered a contraceptive most insurers have placed it in a special therapeutic class of its own. Most major insurers do cover the cost of the pill and its administration.
The pill may only be used for termination of early pregnancy which is the U.S. is defined as up to 49 days. Under the guideline set by the F.D.A. administration of the drug should include 3 doctor’s visits and a counseling session. The doctor’s visits plus the counseling and the price of the drug itself will be covered by insurance. Depending on the location, the cost of a pharmaceutical abortion will run about $700 to $1200 and is generally comparable to the cost of a surgical abortion.
Some employers chose not to cover Mileptrx as a part of their prescription drug plan. Because it is a separate class of drug, the employer who sponsors employees’ health insurance may opt out of coverage for religious or social reasons.
Just as with surgical abortions the majority of employers do cover pharmaceutical abortions.
Whether or not prescription drug coverage of any health reform bill which may be passed will attempt to carve out an exception for pharmaceutical abortions is unknown. It is very likely that it will be the subject of vigorous debate when final bills are sent to the House and Senate.
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Comments
Sheila, please provide detailed evidence of your claim "Just as with surgical abortions the majority of employers do cover pharmaceutical abortions". And don't use the 46 and 87 percent stuff from Guttmacher of Kaiser. I want to know what specifically what abortions employers are covering - is it elective or are your numbers skewed by counting abortion coverage for rape, incest, life of the mother, etc. That is a key detail being discussed in the health care debate. Thank you.
"Just as with surgical abortions the majority of employers do cover pharmaceutical abortions" - Sheila Guilloton
- The Guttmacher Institute, an organization founded by the Planned Parenthood Foundation of America, freely admits within their survey that they include plans that only provide emergency coverage in their 87% figure; and they don't publish their findings on what plans provide abortion coverage regularly and what plans provide it in emergency situations (i.e. threat to a woman's health.)
- Even the Kaiser 2003 study, another organization well-known for it's bias, only comes up with 46% of their sample organizations providing abortion coverage. The data from that survey was compiled nearly 8 years ago and companies have been trimming benefits left and right.
Please provide evidence for your claim that "just as with surgical abortions the majority of employers cover pharmaceutical abortions." It appears to be a myth that is being spread irresponsibly.
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