Notre Dame Professor tackles 'myth' of Christian Martyrdom

[Jack]

Where are you getting this bizarre idea that the school is going to ask women what drugs they are using or for what?

To not cover birth control, they either have to disallow certain drugs regardless of what they're being prescribed for or they have to ask what they're being prescribed for. How else would their insurance not cover birth control?

[Skyth]

The issue for Norte Dame and such is should the organization that believes birth control is a sin have to pay for it?

While they may believe it is a sin, they only have a right not to take it for themselves.  They do not have a right to enforce behavior in other people.

The same argument you are making could be applied to taxes paid to fund executions or wars.  If I was against the war in Iraq, should I not have to pay a portion of my taxes that would fund that?

[MadZealot]

To not cover birth control, they either have to disallow certain drugs regardless of what they're being prescribed for or they have to ask what they're being prescribed for. How else would their insurance not cover birth control?

 

And they wouldn't be able to ask.  HIPAA violation at the very least.

[sailor]

To not cover birth control, they either have to disallow certain drugs regardless of what they're being prescribed for or they have to ask what they're being prescribed for. How else would their insurance not cover birth control?

 
Duh, obvious, they don't cover certain drugs. Just like most insurance plans don't cover certain drugs.

[sailor]

While they may believe it is a sin, they only have a right not to take it for themselves.  They do not have a right to enforce behavior in other people.

The same argument you are making could be applied to taxes paid to fund executions or wars.  If I was against the war in Iraq, should I not have to pay a portion of my taxes that would fund that?

 
And you are missing the point. They are not enforceing behavior, they are just not funding the drugs. If you want to take BC pills, or similar, you can do what I have to do for my daughter - pay out of pocket.

[Sarah]

And you are missing the point. They are not enforceing behavior, they are just not funding the drugs. If you want to take BC pills, or similar, you can do what I have to do for my daughter - pay out of pocket.

 
Or live in a country with socialized medicine

[sailor]

Or live in a country with socialized medicine

 
Or as is the case with the UK, die sooner due to policy. How much money has NHS paid out recently?

[Sarah]

Or as is the case with the UK, die sooner due to policy. How much money has NHS paid out recently?

 
pretty sure I'd die sooner elsewhere seeing as I wouldn't be able to afford health insurance

[Skyth]

And you are missing the point. They are not enforceing behavior, they are just not funding the drugs.

You are the one missing the point.  The reason for not wanting to pay for birth control IS trying to enforce behavior.

[Kokopelli]

And they wouldn't be able to ask.  HIPAA violation at the very least.

It wouldn't violate HIPAA.  The employer would dictate to the group what would and would not be covered.  From there, the group would approve or deny the claim based on the guidelines the employer requested.

However, the employer wouldn't see it.  Now if the group was to share what members were on birth control with the employer, that would be a HIPAA issue.

[MadZealot]

It wouldn't violate HIPAA.  The employer would dictate to the group what would and would not be covered.  From there, the group would approve or deny the claim based on the guidelines the employer requested.

However, the employer wouldn't see it.  Now if the group was to share what members were on birth control with the employer, that would be a HIPAA issue.

 
So, an employer who asks why an employee is taking a med... is not violating HIPAA?

[mandrina]

So, an employer who asks why an employee is taking a med... is not violating HIPAA?

No, the employer pays for its part of the insurance and specifies in the insurance coverage that certain drugs will not be covered except for certain reasons.  The employer may hire a audit group to make sure that happens, but so long as the insurance company does not say that Jane doe is taking BC for BC to the employer, but only to certified auditors, then hipaa is not violated.  The auditors only tell the employer that yes, the insurance company is only paying for the covered items that are given for the covered reason, that's ok.  It's sort of convoluted, but that;s basically how it works.  Employer doesn't ask why the med is being taken, or even if any meds are being taken, the doc sends the paperwork to the Insurance company, which states whether or not it is covered under the insurance plan contracted with the employer, auditors make sure the insurance company is on the up and up on that, and the employer pays their part of the premiums.

[sailor]

No, the employer pays for its part of the insurance and specifies in the insurance coverage that certain drugs will not be covered except for certain reasons.  The employer may hire a audit group to make sure that happens, but so long as the insurance company does not say that Jane doe is taking BC for BC to the employer, but only to certified auditors, then hipaa is not violated.  The auditors only tell the employer that yes, the insurance company is only paying for the covered items that are given for the covered reason, that's ok.  It's sort of convoluted, but that;s basically how it works.  Employer doesn't ask why the med is being taken, or even if any meds are being taken, the doc sends the paperwork to the Insurance company, which states whether or not it is covered under the insurance plan contracted with the employer, auditors make sure the insurance company is on the up and up on that, and the employer pays their part of the premiums.

 
Uh, you are assuming that the employer is not asking.  Jack made the assertion that the employer would be asking. That asking would be the HIPPA violation.

[sailor]

No, the employer pays for its part of the insurance and specifies in the insurance coverage that certain drugs will not be covered except for certain reasons.  The employer may hire a audit group to make sure that happens, but so long as the insurance company does not say that Jane doe is taking BC for BC to the employer, but only to certified auditors, then hipaa is not violated.  The auditors only tell the employer that yes, the insurance company is only paying for the covered items that are given for the covered reason, that's ok.  It's sort of convoluted, but that;s basically how it works.  Employer doesn't ask why the med is being taken, or even if any meds are being taken, the doc sends the paperwork to the Insurance company, which states whether or not it is covered under the insurance plan contracted with the employer, auditors make sure the insurance company is on the up and up on that, and the employer pays their part of the premiums.

 
You are assuming that the employer is not asking. Jack asserted that the employer would be asking, hence the HIPPA violation.

[mandrina]

You are assuming that the employer is not asking. Jack asserted that the employer would be asking, hence the HIPPA violation.

 
my point is the the employer doesn't have to actually ask to enforce the 'our insurance doesn't cover BC unless it's for a nonBC reason" rule.  I understood that Jack was assuming that in order to enforce that rule within the insurance coverage, the employer would have to ask, and they don't have to ask.  It can be enforces without the employer asking or breaking HIPPA.

Apologies if this is not what Jack meant.