Insurance Backlash

Here is a copy of a letter I mailed today. None of the names have been changed to protect the innocent - except mine. I also sent a copy to New West Insurance.

November 9, 2005

Sherry L. Cladouhos, President and CEO
Blue Cross Blue Shield
560 N Park Ave.
Helena, MT 59601

Dear Ms. Cladouhos:

I am writing to inform you that after almost 30 years of having Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) as my insurance carrier, I have switched to New West Insurance. There were many reasons that I did not want to leave BCBS, but the fact that BCBS does not cover contraception in all of its prescription drug plans and New West does, I had no other option but to switch. I am recently married and do not want to have children right away, if ever, which means I need to access birth control.

Your lobbyist was instrumental in blocking the passage of Senator Greg Lind’s Senate Bill 203, which would have required insurance companies that cover drugs for erectile dysfunction and male pattern baldness to also cover contraception, as a matter of fairness to end gender discrimination in insurance policies. Senate Bill 203 unfortunately died in the House Business and Labor Committee. Your lobbyist’s main arguments against covering birth control for women were cost. I find this cost argument hard to buy. How much does covering birth control cost versus covering unplanned, unintended pregnancies? Women who have unplanned pregnancies are less likely to seek pre-natal care and less likely to take pre-natal vitamins leaving you, the insurance company, to pay for sick babies and sick mothers. Cost is NOT the issue, you are discriminating against women. I am proudly switching insurance carriers, and I am encouraging all of my female and male friends to do the same.

Insurance coverage of contraception is popular with consumers; a 1998 Kaiser Family Foundation Poll found that 75% of people polled support insurance coverage of contraception even if premiums were to rise. In fact, twenty-three states, including Illinois, have passed legislation that bans insurance companies from this type of discrimination. And by not covering birth control, you are violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I sincerely hope that Montana’s Attorney General finds that Montana’s sexual discrimination laws in fact require you to cover contraception. Shame on you for discriminating against women. It is just sad that your company would not institute this policy on its own and will need an attorney general’s opinion to change. The only way BCBS could ever redeem itself in my eyes is to voluntarily change its policies and cover contraception. Only then will BCBS get my money.

I feel that your lack of coverage of contraception is in contrary to BCBS’ vision and values, which I have enclosed in this letter. This doesn’t have to be an act of the Legislature nor does it have to be an attorney general’s decision--your company could end the discrimination on its own. Please change your policy and cover contraception in all of your prescription drug plans.

Sincerely,


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Enc.

Cc: Jerry E. Lusk, Acting Board Chair, Blue Cross Blue Shield, 560 N Park Ave., Helena, MT 59601
Scott P. Serota, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Assn., 225 N Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601-7613