My wife was denied a refill on her birth control pills because we could not afford her physical. I am self employed with no health insurance. We were trying to avoid pregnancy b/c of the lack of financial ability to pay. After two weeks off the pill she became pregnant, even though we used a condom.
If we couldn't afford a physical how are we going to afford all the costs associated with a pregnancy. We will likely have to sell our house and I will have to switch jobs so I have health insurance.
Is there any legal ramafactions or our family physician denying our right to protect ourselves.
2007-02-10 01:52:20 · 10 answers · asked by Michael k 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
If you cannot pay a doctor doesn't have to see you, especially prescribe medication for you. Not to seem mean, but you could have gone to a clinic. It is not the doctor's responsibility if you cannot pay. There are clinics in each Ohio county that allow people to pay based on what they can afford. I use to pay $3 a pack back in college. (I live in Ohio.)
2007-02-10 03:28:50 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None that I know of. Most docs usually require that the woman has a physical yearly while on prescribed b/c to monitor for any possible health complications.
It seems to me you would have been smart to have thought of the cost of the annual doc visit and planned for it. It's not that terribly much, for me it's about $150 for a pap and check. So over 12 months, you could have put away maybe $12-$15/month.
If you can afford a house, why can't you afford health insurance or even the full cost of a physican's exam? I am self-employed and am in my late 40s. So my health insurance is probably higher than yours would be cost-wise. What priorities did you use with the money you used? CAn your wife work to obtain health benefits?
Just some thoughts.
2007-02-10 02:37:42 · answer #2 · answered by keyz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe so, you should have applied for public assistance BEFORE this became an issue. If you have a legitamate home business why would you not have money to pay for a physical? I think you probablely should have realized that the business wasn't working out when your bank accounts emptied out.... As for being able to afford the baby I do not believe you will have to sell your house (most rent is higher now a days than house payments are). Most states have a "Mother and baby" health program. Call your local health department to find out what services may be avalible to you. By the way no one but Donald Trump and Bill Gates can actually AFFORD tohave children, so relax, it'll be fine :)
2007-02-10 02:05:20 · answer #3 · answered by autumnofserenity@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh please. I mean, I feel for your situation, but if the prescription is expired it is unethical and illegal for a doc to write a new one without seeing the patient. Not only could she have gone to planned parenthood, where they will bill you later, but you could have NOT HAD SEX, or used two forms of otc birth control (the film w/ condoms, a sponge, spermicide, etc...).
No one infringed upon your right to protect yourself, and by blaming your doctor you are displaying an insane amount of immaturity. If YOU choose to have is YOUR responsibility to protect yourself, not a third party that wasn't in the bed with you and your wife.
Now that she's pregnant, you still have choices! Abortion, adoption, or getting a better job ( or refinancing your house) so you can afford that baby. However, if you get a job with health insurance now that she is pregnant, it will not cover her. Pregnancy is considered a preexisting condition.
Another thought - doctors would be more affordable if they didn't have to raise their costs to cover the increasing cost of insurance to protect them against LAWSUITS!!!
2007-02-10 10:43:55 · answer #4 · answered by Emily O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, no it's not illegal or negligence. And the only 100% sure birth control is abstinence, although that's no way to live :). The doctor must make sure that your wife is healthy enough to be on the pill, it can cause weight gain, stroke, blood clots etc. and whatnot.I do believe it is actually illegal for doctors to prescribe birth control without an annual physical. Try the local welfare office, they may be able to help w/ the medical bills so you can keep your house. I know my local welfare office will pay medical bills that are no more than 6 months old. Good luck!
2007-02-10 02:02:14 · answer #5 · answered by heartlostangel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What about planned parenthood? Why couldn't your wife go to a clinic and get the prescription there?? And really now, "the condom broke" sounds a bit too convenient. I mean, condoms are what---90% effective (and that even accounts for all of the people not using them correctly...) Not sayint it *couldn't* happen, but it seems a bit too convenient coupled with your story---and IMO your wife certainly could have done more to get the prescription at a cost you could afford.... it just would have taken a bit of research on both of your parts. Take responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming others--- you don't have even close to a lawsuit.
2007-02-10 02:02:01 · answer #6 · answered by josie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there are programs available for women who don't have insurance and can't afford prenatal care. No one should go with out prenatal care, call social services in your area. There is a state program that will help her to get the care she needs. You will not have to sell your house to use these programs. She may qualify for WIC as well.
It's completely legal for the doctor to deny refilling a prescription of any kind if she didn't have the yearly physical.
If you change jobs now her pregnancy may not be covered anyhow because it's a preexisting condition at this point.
2007-02-10 01:57:49 · answer #7 · answered by Melissa J 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. The doctor needs to do a physical so that he feels that your wife is in good health to continue on birth control. If you couldn't afford it, it's not his problem. It would be negligent if he continued to prescribe them without seeing the patient. If she was that hard up for pills she should have went to a clinic and you get them for little to nothing. In this day and age noone should be without health insurance. Why can't she get a job and get insurance through it? It would help all around with the family finances.
2007-02-10 02:05:55 · answer #8 · answered by bluez 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no if you can't pay for something they can't just give it to you can go to your local health department they go by what you make is what you will pay most of the time is only $15 a visit
2007-02-10 02:22:16 · answer #9 · answered by kailey0819 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CONDOM
2007-02-10 01:59:29 · answer #10 · answered by †If he only knew† 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋