Health Insurance Why do some insurance companies cover Viagra but mine does not cover prescription contraceptives? Written by Insure.com | Posted on: December 7, 2009 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. It’s not fair that some health insurance companies are covering Viagra but my company doesn’t cover prescription contraceptives. It’s true that many health insurers started covering Viagra after men began scrambling for this impotency “wonder drug” and yet they don’t cover contraceptives. But there’s been a movement afoot to make it an equal playing field. There are 24 states that have enacted laws requiring group health insurance companies to cover prescription contraceptives if they cover other prescription drugs and devices, and other states have similar proposals pending, according to the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. The National Conference of State Legislatures reported in 2009 that mandates in two states, Texas and Virginia, require that employers be offered the option to include coverage of contraceptives within their group health plans. Some laws prohibit insurance group plans from excluding contraceptive services and supplies. Other states also recognize an exemption for employers that object to contraceptive coverage for religious reasons. And several states require employers to notify employees of their refusal to provide contraceptive coverage. Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia have mandate exemptions based primarily on “religious reasons” for insurers and employers. Opponents of these laws say they will drive up the cost of health insurance. Advocates contend that the estimated cost of $30 per month for birth control is much cheaper than the cost of unplanned pregnancies. Related Articles How to add a spouse to your health insurance plan By Huma Naeem Can I drop my spouse from my health insurance at any time? By Nupur Gambhir Can you get health insurance if you retire at 62? By Shivani Gite How COBRA works if you move out of state By Barry Eitel Can my parents kick me off their health insurance By Shivani Gite Does my deductible start over if I change jobs? By Shivani Gite ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates