According to a study performed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, there are over 18 million men in America over 20 battling erectile dysfunction. In the past, this disease was thought to be related to age alone. But since the rise in sexual performance issues, studies have been performed and now suggest that everything from your workout habits, diet and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease are linked as well.
Some men first try making lifestyle changes prevent cardiovascular disease, which can in turn prevent erectile dysfunction. However, if these changes are unsuccessful or unwarranted, then many turn to Viagra to help correct erectile dysfunction.
Viagra and Erectile Dysfunction
Viagra is by far the one of most popular prescription drugs available to treat erectile dysfunction. Shortly after first hitting the market in 2000, Viagra accounted for 92% of the global market share for prescribed ED treatment. In the years since, its market share has dropped to approximately 50% due to an increase in competing prescriptions.
The little blue pill, as some call it, was once only able to bought using cash. At this time, it was around $5 per pill. After Obamacare rolled out, the price shot up for Viagra to over $25 per pill. The rates rise and fall over time, sometimes reaching as high as $50 per pill, depending on where you buy it.
Viagra and Your Insurance Coverage
After Obamacare was established, men living with this disease wondered if the resulting changes in their health insurance plan would cover their Viagra prescriptions. In short, Obamacare doesn’t exactly offer coverage for Viagra. It’s just a set of laws called the Affordable Care Act, which governs how insurance companies handle their plans. Under Obamacare, health insurers are required to offer a certain set of services to policyholders – this includes prescription meds. You’ll find a list of prescription medications that are covered under a particular health insurance provider, so make sure to check.
The good news is that Obamacare also made it so that insurers had to cover medications like Viagra. Viagra is an FDA approved drug and all health insurance providers are required to cover prescription drugs because they’re considered an essential health benefit.
The downside is that only a certain number of pills are covered, so you may not get the same amount you’re used to. There are different rules for different plans, so it’s important to make note of their requirements for Viagra. For instance, there may be a monthly limit or prior authorization is required before you can obtain it.
Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Your health insurance plan will cover various steps of treatment for erectile dysfunction. This includes obtaining diagnostic services, which is normally performed by your personal doctor, or a specialist, like a urologist. You just have to look over the copay requirements to see how much will be out of pocket. There are different levels of plans to choose from, from bronze to platinum. The plan you choose will also dictate which doctor visits are covered and whether you can receive diagnostics from a lab.
When it comes to prescription treatment for erectile dysfunction, different health insurers have their own list of prescription drugs you can choose from. This list will include one or more of the well-known PDE5 inhibitors on the market today. In most cases, the insurer will cover majority of the price for the prescription you obtain. You’ll only be responsible for a small co-pay.
To ensure your policy covers this, you should shop for an Affordable Care Act-qualified health plan. If you specifically want Viagra, then you will need to inquire about their list of prescription medications to see what’s covered.
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