NYPD/FDNY Wives vent here ..

I know we had started a thread a while back to vent to each other. I saw a good vent yesterday, and looked for our original thread but could not find it. I figured I would start a new one.

Right now I have only 1 complaint, but I am sure there will be many more to come. Mark is a NYPD Sgt. We got married 12/15 and he put me on his health plan right away. I take bc pills for pcos (polycystic ovary). Every insurance I have ever had has covered it b/c it is for medical reasons, just needed a note from the dr. Of coarse sgt's get their scripts covered by the union and not the city and it is NOT covered. It is so annoying.. It's a small complaint, but I figure it deserves a mention.

Liz
they will have to cover it as of march!! pataki signed something
look into it
everyone has to know, I think but could be wrong.....
check into it

my other vent can be found here...... might as well consolidate so i dont have to type it all again
gotta love that properties feature

http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic.asp?ID=47489

liz- check the senate website
I am almost positive EVERYONE has to as of march
maybe not now or maybe his delegate doesnt know!! lol
anyway hopefully everyone will cover it in march that is what I h eard

im going to look right now :)
Im bored

There was a huge class action suit about insurance co. not covering bcp but covering viagra.
Can you believe the nerve??? So sexist. Women won, though and I think that's why there's been a movement for a requirement for it to be covered, whether medically necessary or not.

Tammy - thanks
If you find anything let me know the web site and I will let Mark know.

liz
this is all I could find for now but someone told me in MARCH all INSURANCE must cover it
this is from june, I think it already passed the assembly too


FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Monday, June 17, 2002

SENATE PASSES WOMEN'S HEALTH BILL
Expanded Coverage for Early Cancer Detection, Contraception for All Women



The New York State Senate today passed historic womens' health legislation that requires expanded insurance coverage for prevention, early detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancer, osteoporosis and other women's health needs, as well as coverage for prescription contraceptives for all women.

'This bill is the culmination of years of work to get a result that will provide women with expanded access to a critical health care services that can save lives,' Senator Bruno said. 'It reflects the tremendous work of the Senate Women's Health and Wellness Task Force Co-Chaired by Senators Mary Lou Rath and John Bonacic, as well as the input of many women's health advocacy groups and other organizations in an effort to reach a compromise that achieves the goals of increased access for women's health care services, broader health insurance coverage and protecting religious freedoms.

'This will build on the Senate Majority's long history of promoting and supporting measures that enhance women's health and that of all New Yorkers,' Senator Bruno added. 'It represents another leap forward in promoting healthy lives.'

'This legislation will reduce barriers and broaden access to critical healthcare services for women. I want to thank Senator Bruno for his leadership in making this legislation possible,' Senator John Bonacic (R-C - Mt. Hope) said. 'I also want to thank the advocacy groups who worked side by side with me for the last three years on this legislation.'

'This legislation will result in dramatic declines in the number of women who were previously undiagnosed with often preventable and treatable diseases,' Senator Mary Lou Rath (R-C, Amherst) said. 'Women make three-quarters of the health care decisions in American households, and spend almost two of every three health care dollars. This bill increases access and expands critical health services for women; in short, we are ensuring that the caregivers are eligible for care.'

'This legislation strikes an appropriate balance for women's health care in New York State and continues the Senate's initiatives in that direction,' Senator Kemp Hannon (R-C, Garden City), Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said.

Specifically, the Women's Health measure (S.7657) will:

BREAST/CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

* expand women's access to mammography and cervical cancer screenings by closing a loophole in earlier laws requiring coverage that exempted some 'multistate' policies;

* require insurers to pay for annual breast cancer-detecting mammograms for women beginning at age 40. Current law requires coverage for biannual screenings for women aged 40 to 49, and annually from age 50.

OSTEOPOROSIS EXAMS
* require coverage for preventive screening tests, like routine bone density exams, to detect the bone-crippling disease osteoporosis, according to National Institutes of Health and Medicare guidelines.

CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE

* require that prescription drug plans include coverage for approved contraceptive drugs and devices;

* certain religious organizations are exempt from providing such coverage when the nonprofit employer's main mission is religious, and it primarily employs and serves people of that religion. Employees of these organizations would be able to purchase this coverage on their own at a lower cost group rate.

OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY DIRECT ACCESS

* clarifies a 1994 law allowing women to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist without a referral from a primary care physician to cover all women enrolled in eligible plans.

OUTREACH

* The Senate and Assembly will each contribute $250,000 to the Healthy Women Partnership Program to be used for individuals who cannot meet deductible or co-pay obligations, the funds would also be used to establish a statewide public education and outreach campaign to publicize breast cancer detection and education services includes general community education, outreach to specific underserved populations, clinical breast cancer screening services and follow-up care, extent of coverage for such services by health insurance, the medical assistance program and other public and private programs.

The bill closes several loopholes in existing law that limited some women's access to early detection screenings for breast and cervical cancer. Additionally, it provides coverage according to nationally recognized criteria for women to detect osteoporosis, a bone-weakening condition that affects nearly half of women, usually by age 50.

Women who have difficulty meeting costs for breast or cervical exams because of high insurance deductibles will be provided free screenings through the Healthy Women Partnership Program which is offered through the State Department of Health.

The bill requires contraceptive drugs and devices be included in the prescription coverage provided by insurers and HMOs. Many employers and health plans already include such coverage.

Religious organizations with faith-based objections are exempt if they primarily employ and serve members of that faith. These employees must, however, be provided access to contraceptive coverage through lower-cost group rates. In addition, employees of an organization covered by the religious exemption would be entitled to prescribed contraceptives to address other medical problems. A majority of states that statutorily require contraceptive coverage provide similar exemption provisions for religious organizations.

New York -- led by the Senate -- has been a trailblazer in expanding required coverage for women's health needs. Earlier laws initiated by the Senate required coverage for early testing for breast and cervical cancer, when treatment options offer the best hope for full and healthful recovery, required coverage for post-treatment breast reconstruction, and ended such dubious practices as 'drive-thru' child births and mastectomies.

'These earlier efforts have certainly resulted in dramatic declines in the number of women who were previously undiagnosed with often preventable and treatable diseases,' said Senator Bruno. 'The Women's Health bill builds on this strong tradition of concern and caring for New York women and their health needs.'

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

I was the one venting yesterday due to b-day plans ruined b/c of 'The Job' I appreciate having you guys to understand how I feel! It helps. My mom kinda gets defensive and has a '**** it up' attitude. She too, was an NYPD wife. She was also married for 5yrs w/a kid when he became a cop, I think that's different. I just kinda feel like I'm missing out on the newlywed phase of my marriage and that makes me sad. He said he will put in a request for days, but I feel like that might make him resent me. He loves midnights, more happens on that tour, and he's not stuck writing summons. Plus night-differential is a bonus...I don't want to be selfish, I just would really like to have my husband.....I get jealous when I see couples together and I'm alone. I also get jealous when I come on these boards and hear about things girls do w/their husbands....what should I do? Should I let him put in the request for days??

Sha11209 - I also grew up a cops daughter, but my father retired when I was 7, so it really didn't affect me. My brother and brother-in law were both NYPD as well, so my sister and my sister in law have been through all this as well. Mark works all different shifts, so I do get to see him some weeks at night. But I must admit I did hate it when he worked midnights b/c I work days and we never saw each other and he had off like wed, thurs (that ****ed). He also preferred midnights when he was a cop, now he works mostly 12/8's as a Sgt, but with the commute back to Suffold he gets home right before or after I go/went to bed. I get up at 5:30, so it's hard for me to stay up too late. We lived together for 2.5 yrs b4 the wedding, so I guess I am more used to it now. It doesn't bother me as much as it used to. The part now that I hate the most if when he has to work the big holidays, but hopefully in time, that will change too. I would like to have him home more after the kids arrive.
I know it's hard but give it more time. Hopefully it will get a little easier. Try to use the little time you do get to spend together and make it as special as possible. Anytime you want to vent, feel free. We are all here for you !!!

BTW - Happy Birthday