Why Is Everyone Suggesting You Have an IUD Inserted While You Can
You may have heard people suggest that if you want to be sure you have birth control over the next four years, you should make an appointment to have an IUD inserted now . This is because January will bring a new political era and possibly change the way insurance companies cover birth control.
If you want contraception that works for the next four years, get an IUD or implant now
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a contraceptive method that can be installed and forgotten . After the first visit to the office to insert it, you will not have to worry about buying contraceptives or diapers for at least five years. If you have a copper type, ten is enough for you. Another option is the implant, which lives under the skin of your arm , which lasts four.
Current laws require your health plan to cover most methods of birth control free of charge, with no deductible and no copay. This includes birth control pills as well as long-acting methods such as IUDs and implants.
These long-acting methods are the most effective and reliable of all contraceptives. They’re also the most expensive: without insurance, an IUD can cost $ 800 plus whatever your gynecologist charges for an office visit. Over time, this cost may turn out to be cheaper than other methods, but it is still a major obstacle to obtaining medical care. Nobody wants to choose between birth control and rent for this month.
This is why you might want to get the IUD right now: it’s free and will last for a presidential term or two. However, if you wait after your inauguration, you may lose this coverage.
We don’t know if everyone will still have contraceptive protection in 2017
Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20, 2017 , and has pledged to begin lifting the Obama administration’s actions, including some or all of the Affordable Care Act , on his first day in office.
Complete “cancel and replace” will take time and cooperation with Congress. But if Trump wants to refute this act, in the meantime he can take action. According to Forbes , he can stop paying insurance companies for cost cut, and insurance companies are allowed to cancel plans if he does. Depending on which campaign promises you believe, Trump may not want people to lose their insurance without a law providing some sort of alternative coverage, so this scenario is possible but unlikely.
On the other hand, giving up birth control would be much easier. The ACA doesn’t say a word about the IUD or even about birth control in general; it just says that women’s health services will be covered. The new Secretary of Health and Human Services could simply redefine the term and, fucking, the requirement for free birth control coverage would disappear .
Insurance companies can still cover birth control even without a requirement, but this will depend on each plan and according to state laws. Before the ACA went into effect, 28 states needed contraception, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation .
There is one little joy: the open recruitment does not close until January 31, 2017 . This means that if your coverage does change immediately after Trump takes office, you will have a week and a half to change your plan.
How to decide if an IUD is right for you
We have written a contraceptive guide and an explanation on the IUD . Check them out if the IUD sounds like a good idea. For more information, especially if you’re not sure which type is best for you, talk to your doctor.
However, call before your visit. Some service providers still work with outdated information and may refuse you because of your age or because you did not have children . If so, hang up and call someone else. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the IUD is a great choice, even for teenagers .
Another good reason to call ahead is that not all suppliers have an IUD in stock – remember, they are expensive. Ask if they have someone ready to come to the appointment, so you only need to come once.
Keep in mind that after five or ten years, you will have to remove the IUD. It’s a quick procedure (basically your ISP is just pulling the strings), but it requires another office visit. And no, trying to uninstall yourself is unsafe .
If the IUD isn’t right for you, that’s okay. Consider other options and remember that none of us really know what will happen to our healthcare next year. This means that right now is a great time for any preventive care you put off, such as check-ups or vaccinations. And who knows, maybe nothing will change in the end. But at least you’ll be ready.
Illustration by Angelica Alzona.