Ok so let me apologize right off because this post is going to be a little politically charged. I read this article just a few minutes ago: Domino's Founder Sues Feds Over Health Care Laws . Take a second and read it.
Ok done...now here I go :) First I want to make one thing clear. I don't believe birth control is a bad thing. I have used the pills, and while I did experience some side effects that effected my health, and I personally will not take them again, this doesn't mean I don't see a need for them. In fact there are medical reasons to take them far beyond just for contraceptive uses. In fact, if you go through fertility treatments you will probably take. Seems weird but it can happen. Write me...I can tell you all about it :)
Now why will I eat Domino's pizza every week for the next decade? Because I am thankful someone is standing up for the right to bear children! How is it ok to cover contaceptives and abortion, but not cover fertility treatments? Why can you opt out of having a baby, but not opt in? If it is truly woman's right to choose, why can I only choose one option? I can only chose abortion and have it paid for if I do not want a baby, but I cannot chose invitro and have it paid for if I do. Why is that not an insurance option. I am not seeing the fairness in this. I can tell you that infertility is not an option. It is a health issue that 1 in 8 couples experience. And we have no voice in the insurance community. We have no advocate to say, hey maybe they should be allowed to get medical help if they are diagnosed with this silent predator. But nope. Most insurances provide very little coverage, and that coverage is slowly going away. I am not on a soap box over whether I agree or disagree with abortion, etc. It isn't about that...it's about fairness. You want to give people one option...you should give them the other.
I am sure the Domino's founder might not agree with fertility treatments. Some people don't due to religious convictions, and that is ok. But I am sure he would agree that you shouldn't be forced into one option and not given another. I appreciate the fact that he is standing up and at least stating that this portion isn't fair. Like I said, I don't see an issue with birth control, but if you are going to provide coverage that "benefits" women, then benefit those of us dying to be mom's.
And while you are at it, can you please save the adoption tax credit. It seems like families are under attack. Everything that they can take to prevent families they are doing. In my opinion, families are the basis for everything. Why are they fighting it? This article talks about how hard the fight with infertility is and discusses a bill that went to Congress in 2009 called the Family Building Act, which would have provided Federally mandated fertility coverage: Many-couples-struggle-infertility-silence. Yeah you can guess it...that bill died. I have written my congressman about the adoption tax credit and if I had been educated about this bill at the time I would've written about this. It's as simple as giving families a voice. Be it adoption, treatments, or however they feel the need to grow.
I am angry and want a pizza now :) But again, I am not judging or making any type of derogatory remark towards contraceptives or abortion. I typically do not like to get into hot topics like that. But what I am strongly saying is, be fair. If you can have an abortion if you would not choose to parent at this time, why can't you choose to pursue treatments if you want to be a parent at this time but are inhibited by infertility? Why do we fund so many research pieces, but not infertility?
Can someone please tell me how to go and lobby on the Hill to make things in Congress happen? We as a nation get so preoccupied with other policy that we forget the fundamentals of what makes our nation great and that's freedom to chose. Well give those 1 in 8 couples their choice. Make insurance provide help. We pay for insurance, why can we not get the coverage we need? I love our country and government, but I think they need to think about everyone and not just select groups. Provide both choices or provide nothing. You wouldn't tell someone they could only receive preventative care but not care when they are sick would you?
So while I am not onboard with taking away contraceptives, I am onboard with the Domino's founder in saying I believe that this insurance thing is out of hand. What was so wrong with how things were and you could chose the best insurance and pay a higher premium if need be to get good coverage? At least the current plan I have covered the fertility medication and a lot of the steps leading up to the actual procedures. Starting Jan 1, nothing until I reach my now astromical deductible and then little to no coverage after that. However, birth control is a medication not subject to the deductible and 100% covered....what the french toast man? They say it is part of women's health and I appreciate that. I am love being a woman and being taken care of, but being a woman also entitles me to decide to have a baby doesn't it? If not, it should.
Just call me the female CM Punk....The Voice of the Voiceless :)
Sorry for the rant but I think it's time us infertile and adoptive parents stand up and say you know what....we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore. Treat us like you treat others. We want to be treated fairly and equally. GIVE US WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE!! And the right to choose...is not when you are only given one choice buster...so don't you dare try that.
Now I am off to buy pizza from Domino's and Papa John's :)
Peace, Love, & Pizza and Babies!!
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