If Being a Woman Is a Pre-Existing Condition, Then Erectile Function is One, Too!

I’m contributing to the massive effort by the National Women’s Law Center to raise awareness about the gender inequalities in our health care system.

A huge part of the health care reform debate centers on how we pay for health care. And a huge player in how we pay for healthcare is the health insurance industry. Fact: Right now about half of health care spending is through government subsidized programs and the other half by the private sector, the vast majority of which comes through employee benefited, group health insurance.

BUT if you are a woman AND unlucky enough to have to rely on the individual health insurance market, your luck has run out.

Let us count the ways:

• You will pay more than a man for the same coverage with the same medical conditions. Just because you are a woman.
• You will be denied coverage more often for no other reason. Just because you are a woman (in many states) or because you have a “pre-existing” condition that affects only women.
• What are some of these pre-existing conditions? Previous pregnancy, prior C-section delivery, being a victim of rape and being a victim of domestic violence or other battery.

Sounds unbelievable. Right? Well you better believe it because it is true.

Let’s carefully dissect just these four “ills” that prevent women from buying any health insurance, much less affordable health insurance.

The ills of pregnancy, particularly one complicated by the trauma of a Caesarian section, are almost always brought about by an act of erectile function wanted or not. Thus, these “ills” (pregnancy and C-section) rightfully belong to two parties—the impregnated and the impregnator. In my mind, then erectile function could also be considered a pre-existing condition.

How about rape? Most women do not ask to or want to be raped. One woman cannot rape another. But a man, one who has normal erectile function, is a good candidate for the role of rapist. But really now, if you think about it, rape is not a medical condition, it is a social ill, a criminal act. She has been violated once by the rapist and then is violated again that her injury becomes a pre-existing condition is more than ludicrous, it is criminal. Another big bang for their buck so to speak (with every pun intended).

You are beaten up by your significant (but lousy) other. Yes, some make poor choices, and some have the misfortune to be born into less than optimal life circumstances, and yes, there are some who are drawn into and even enable abusive relationships. But how is survival of assault a medical condition? How does one differentiate the ravages of a criminal act resulting physical injury that needs medical attention, from the much larger problem of the generalized social ill of mistreatment and devaluation of women. Men who participate bar room brawls or play football or engage in some other high risk behavior (such as rape, battery or baby making) must also face exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

Access is denied because our society doesn’t truly value the biological imperative of our reproductive role. Access is denied because our government driven legal system does not protect us from those who are stronger and seriously disturbed enough to hurt us.

Healthcare reform for these women means healthcare insurance reform. We do not need a government run health care system to “fix” these ills. We need our government to stop rape and domestic violence. (Let’s start with prosecuting the decades of DNA evidence for the tens or hundreds of thousands of rape cases).

We need a society that values women specifically in their role as mothers. Any party that wants to participate in the provision of healthcare to women must realize that their profit is not a short term bottom line. Healing our bodies after childbirth is for the common good. It is essential to raising the healthy, productive, and consuming next generation.

Yes, if being a woman is a pre-existing condition, then being a man is too. Out of control testosterone levels that lead to domestic violence and rape—vile acts against women may be deemed as abnormal erectile function. Indeed as much of a pre-existing condition as childbirth. For better or worse, for all, our biology defines us. The healthcare insurance industry needs reform. If any healthcare reform is passed by this congress it must include the simple elimination of pre-existing conditions for all.