r/HealthInsurance • u/sweetbabycoconut • Jul 28 '25

Employer/COBRA Insurance Insurance doesn’t cover contraceptives because they said they’re a Christian-based organization

i use birth control to stop my periods and when i called my insurance to check for coverage this morning they said they don’t cover contraceptives for religious reasons

the estimate from my provider is around $2000 without insurance so just double-checking about alternative routes i can take given that information

insurance is from virginia mason hospital & they switched to bcbsil from first choice this year if that’s relevant

25 in wa with a $25 wage

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11

u/blackkristos Jul 28 '25

Wait, BCBS Illinois isn't covering? Are you positive about this? I worked for BCBS for nearly 20 years, and I am wondering if they actually provide benefits.

26

u/Erinbaus Jul 28 '25

Religious exemptions are decided at the client/employer level so it’s BCBS saying it’s not covered, the employer specifically requested a plan that doesn’t cover it per religious exemption criteria.

2

u/blackkristos Jul 28 '25

Right, but they said they recently moved to BCBS IL. I was just trying to help drill down to who it was that managed her benefits.

8

u/jerzeett Jul 28 '25

Yeah so when the company moved to BCBS they requested to not cover contraception under the “religious exemption”

1

u/blackkristos Jul 28 '25

Yeah, if it's a small fund (like Hobby Lobby and the ACA), that happens. But most commercial BCBS plans would cover all contraception.

6

u/jerzeett Jul 28 '25

Exactly. Her company (likely a religiously affiliated hospital) has claimed the religious exemption so they don’t have to cover it for their employees.

It’s not a BCBS policy by any means.