Women v Men Poll:Should Medicare or Medicaid pay for Viagra

[Chicago Democrat]

Poll question: Women v Men Poll:Should Medicare or Medicaid pay for Viagra

From Article today:

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has introduced legislation to prohibit Medicare and Medicaid from paying for lifestyle drugs, such as Viagra.

Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid funding, was moved to action after the New York comptroller announced Medicaid paid for erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, for convicted sex offenders.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated Medicare and Medicaid would spend $2 billion on these lifestyle drugs between 2006-2015, including through the new Medicare prescription drug benefit that begins in January 2006.

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After reading above article. Choose from the following:
Notice: All viagra would be banned, not just sex offenders.

[Shoeempress]

1. Cover birth control and abortions, then Viagra can be covered.

[Chicago Democrat]

3. The US spends like12% of its GNP on Health care, its a false choice

Basically we could have everything for everyone. But Grassley is an expert at dividing us with stupid issues like this.

[blondeatlast]

15. Exactly. I can't vote, because the isue is BS. nt

[NorCalDem]

4. I agree

[hlthe2b]

10. Yes... It is disgraceful that BC has never been covered.

Just disgraceful.

[XemaSab]

14. BC should be covered

but not viagra.

If a woman's on medicaid, she probably can't afford kids and should be given every option not to have more children. This is a taxpayer issue because the taxpayer would probably pay for said unwanted children both through welfare and quite possibly the justice system. If a woman on welfare wants a kid, God bless her, but if she's using BC, she probably doesn't. Paying for BC makes her happier and saves the taxpayers money.

Having sex isn't a right, it's a privelege, and therefore should not be paid for by the taxpayers any more than sex toys or porn. I'm not anti-sex toys or porn, I just think that the people who want it should pay for it, and not the taxpayer.

[mongo]

35. It is a quality of life issue.

First, let me say medicaid SHOULD be paying for birth control.

But they should pay for Viagra too. If not, what other quality of life drugs should they NOT pay for? Vicodin? Being free of pain isn't a right, it's a privilege.

Having sex isn't a right, it's a privelege

I think that if you read the judges opinion in Lawrence vs Texas, the judge disagrees. People have the right to privacy in their sexual affairs. As far as Viagra goes, for people with ED it is a quality of life issue, and they deserve as much compassion as someone with any other medical problem.

[XemaSab]

40. I'm just bitter

because I don't get any.

:-)

[mongo]

42. I hope your post wasn't a double entendre

"I'm just bitter"
because I don't get any.

:blush:

[Arugula Latte]

22. Exactamente.

The double standard is outrageous.

[burrowowl]

29. Right on

especially since Men benefit from birth control pills as well. Many women wouldn't take them if they weren't in a relation. When will men take a birth control pill?

[Chicago Democrat]

2. Interesting this Republican proposal is a winner!

Those medicaid people... were just molly coddling them!

I say put them all to work in Saipan!

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. Clear Channel's KFI is supporting this ban on Viagra

Makes me immediately suspicious.

(even though I think it stinks to high heaven that men get their Viagra paid for and women can't get their birth control covered.)

http://www.johnandkenshow.com/

98 High-Risk Sex Offenders Receiving Viagra From Medicaid

So the government wants to help them sexually assault people? New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi has asked Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to change federal policies on distribution of the drug, Hevesi announced today. Level 3 sex offenders are those considered by the courts most likely to commit crimes again.

“Federal, state and local reimbursement for the cost of erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders raises serious policy considerations and has the potential to place the public at risk. I am asking that you take immediate action to ensure that sex offenders do not receive erectile dysfunction medication paid for by the taxpayers. I urge you to take administrative action to remedy the situation or draft an amendment to the underlying statute as appropriate,” Hevesi wrote to Leavitt. Read more.

[Chicago Democrat]

26. Yes, that this ALL GOP proposal is popular here is VERY distressing

We are pretty much doomed aren't we. If this is how liberals approach selective dismantling of medicare, i'm worried.

This is all a replublican ploy to cut Medicaid and hurt poor people.

[Nikki Stone 1]

38. You think it is creating a precedent?

If Viagra can be denied by public health programs, so can other drugs.

(I keep track of Clear Channel (KFI in LA) because they are so effective at getting people riled up over "centrist" issues that end up supporting a neocon end.)

[Chicago Democrat]

41. that's it precisely....

:(

[Love Bug]

5. I want medicare to first cover medically necessary drugs

Wasn't viagra developed as a treatment for something else? In that case it would be a medically-necessary drug.

[Plausible]

6. Cover birth control and morning after pill first

It is really insulting that it covers viagra and not birth control.

Men with Viagra should certainly want birth control for all.

[Pryderi]

7. Viagra 4 Women...why isn't that being researched??

:P

[mongo]

36. Viagra for women is being researched.

I don't remember the details of the last drug trials, but the bottom line is that women and arousal is a lot more complicated than ED in men.

In the mean time there are some herbal type products that do offer some help. Max Desire by MD science labs is a great product, and will increase a women's general energy level too.

[Miss Chybil]

9. This isn't a women vs. men question, is it? I mean, women are sure to

enjoy the effects of Viagra at least as much, or more than men, right? Now, should the government pay for it? Hell no.

[Chicago Democrat]

16. Oh really? look at the difference...

If birth control pills and Viagra were substituted I wonder..

[EVDebs]

11. Only if Plan B aka morning after pill is also paid for similarly

[Chicago Democrat]

27. Sure!

[eallen]

12. Medicaid and Medicare are very different.

If either program pays for one, I think it should pay for the other. There's a built-in form of discrimination attached to Medicare: you don't qualify until you're 65. I doubt there is a woman that age who needs an abortion. However, some will take HRT, which is the same pill younger women take for birth control. There are now some drugs in research for female sexual dysfunction.

Be careful for what you ask. That flowchart gets more and more complex every day.

:bounce:

[Chicago Democrat]

17. Nope, Medicare is for the disabled too... (which is a major user of it)

because of their disabilities.

[Inland]

20. I did not know that.

So there is a need for contraception and such for medicare?

[Chicago Democrat]

21. Of course, but they don't cover it cause its

evil or whatever.

Love America,

Love Americans,

Love Democrats even more



That's my new bumpersticker magnet thing

[Poppyseedman]

13. Why should I pay for someone to get an erection?

I can think of lots of medical problems to cover first instead of helping an old coot get his jollies off.

[Chicago Democrat]

19. Ok how about some young quadrapeligic? Or a car accident victim

now disabled with no arms and legs?

[blondeatlast]

18. When Medicare pays for insulin pumps, I'll give a damn...

maybe.

[Zookeeper]

23. I'm with you, blondeatlast! n/t

[Dinger]

24. Wonder How Many Of These Fundie Pharmacists Refuse Viagra Prescriptions?

[Chicago Democrat]

25. None of course....

Women have a right to feel oppressed.


The answer is not oppression for everyone.

[cestpaspossible]

28. I don't care if they pay for viagra, as long as contraception is covered.

Therefore I didn't vote.

Plus it would be nice if I could get basic affordable health care when I need it - even if I had to pay out of pocket. Unfortunately, the health industry is not in the business of providing health care, they are just an arm of the insurance industry.

[lonestarnot]

30. No but apparently the state pays for child molesters to have the crap.

[Radical Activist]

31. Why should I pay for old people to have sex when

I'm not getting any myself right now? :p

[ngGale]

32. The worse part was giving it to...

men who had been in jail for assaulting little girls. FGS - how stupid can the gov. be. Cut women off and turn men on.:sarcasm:

[ngGale]

33. The worse part was giving it to...

men who had been in jail for assaulting little girls. FGS - how stupid can the gov. be. Cut women off and turn men on.:sarcasm:

[rucky]

34. Judging from the shape of the poll...

some of the "yes" voters are having a bit of trouble getting their numbers up.

[MsTryska]

37. No Boners on my Dime, dammit.

i guess men's erectile issues is where i become a republican.


however, when my reproductive needs are met, theirs can be met as well.

it's the usual standoff.

[Sugarbleus]

39. I chose #2. People using Medicare or Medicaid are usually

either elderly or disabled. As a straight woman living with a person who falls under both catagories, I'd very MUCH like my companion to be able to function... It is as much for me as it is for him. :evilgrin:

Perhaps those younger, healthy folks who do not use Medicare/medicaid but use a private insurance can insist that their insurance carriers either include birth control pills and other female reproductive services in addition to viagra/cialis etc for their men. OR they can insist that their insurance carriers NOT cover Viagra if they won't cover the women also.

Please, give we, the elderly, sick, and disabled a break on this. Most of us in this catagory are NOT in our child bearing years anymore.

:hi: