No pill for handicapped women from 20 years

Verdict: health insurance does not have to pay pill for disabled women over 20

02/07/2013

The cost of the pill must take over the statutory health insurance only for women up to the age of 20 years. The Hessian social court confirmed this regulation on Wednesday also for handicapped women. A Disability Assistance Association had complained against it, as mentally handicapped are only partially able to ensure the necessary in the pregnancy life change.

Previous regulation of reimbursement for pill also confirmed for the disabled
The statutory health insurances cover the costs of the birth control pill only for women up to the age of 20, in order to protect young women in education from getting into financial conflict for financial reasons.

An association of inpatient assistance for the disabled had filed a lawsuit against recourse claims of the health insurance fund because it had prescribed the pill to disabled patients who had exceeded the age limit. As the association explained, disabled women are not or only partially able to adapt their living conditions to a pregnancy. In addition, many sufferers take medicines that could lead to malformations and developmental disorders of the fetus.

The Hessian social court confirmed however on Wednesday in second instance the previous regulation. Regardless of disability, the health insurance funds are still only obliged to pay the pill for women under the age of 21 (Case L 4 C 17/12).

Picture: Peter Kirchhoff