Way back in the late 70's I worked in a Union shop as well....being a gay man (in the closet at the time) that never came up, but I do remember reading my insurance coverage and all I can remember is a generic few sentences about 'reproductive' coverage.

I would be VERY curious if that was restricted to only 'reproductive' and not 'preventive reproductive'.

Not sure if that is informative or not?

I have to run out of here now but will be back later this afternoon to see if anyone knows more about this stuff. Don't want anyone to think this was a hit and run post.

Glad you found the question of interest.

Don

true 40 years ago.

by my insurance when I first started taking them in 1969. In fact, I processed claims for the company then. If a drug needed a script from an MD, wasn't OTC, it was covered, and it was free with my insurance.

My husband's vasectomy was covered in 1984. This was a different insurance company than what I had. Having worked with claims, and also in HR, back then all surgery was covered unless it was considered cosmetic. Sterilization was considered elective surgery (covered), but certainly not cosmetic. Today it seems many policies will not even cover any elective surgery, which I suppose sterilization would be. Health coverage has gotten much worse since back in the those days.

I never heard anything at all about "relligious objections" back in those days. When my husband went for his surgery, I had to give my consent. We had to listen to a "what if" speech from the doctor, and wait 24 hours after this. I don't know if thIS was required by insurance, or just this particular doctor. I doubt NYS required this! Anyway, it was stupid, and we both said this to the doctor.

Do you think maybe it was just your particular insurance, or your state, that wouldn't cover BC?

Eventually my insurance covered it too.

Don

when you are sick
you go to a hospital
a hospital is supposed to be a hospital is supposed to be a hospital
care from one should be pretty much the same at all
minor variations sure
so
some 28 years ago my first wife developed leukemia during her last trimester of pregnancy
she was at mt sinani hosptial in milw--jewish??? back then--don't know did not care....
test were done, development checked, c-section done--kid not completely baked but baked enough--then wife began chemo.

would care had been differenct at a catholic hospital?????
i was always under the assumption that the patient was supposed to come first and
religuous affiliation meant they were more likely to have a preist or rabbi on staff then a prot minister.

perhaps not
seems you are supposed to pick a hosptal that matches your theological backround????

WRONG you pick the hospital where your doctor and your insurance company sends you.

If the kid wasn't baked enough, she probably would have needed to go elsewhere to get a termination in order to start chemo.

When our nearest ER was at a Catholic hospital, Mr. Laurel had strict instructions to take me elsewhere in a crisis because I knew my health would not come first since I was a woman of childbearing age. As it happens, I also worked for the affiliated university -- no services that "were in opposition to Catholic doctrine" were covered -- no contraception, sterilization, IVF, or selective termination. Now the university has one plan of three available that will cover contraception; however, it's pretty crappy about everything else.

Unless you are over a certain age or have certain medical problems. They will, however, give your wife breast implants. This exact scenario happened to my nephew. His parents gave him money to go to a civilian doctor to get a vasectomy, even though he wasn't supposed to.

And, I bet it was the influence of the RC with certain union officials re: your vasectomy, especially if you were in Chicago or Boston or somewhere like that.