Is Erectile Dysfunction Considered a Pre-existing Condition?
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If I have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction in the past, could this possibly count against me when applying for health insurance?
If current proposed health care reform stays in place, in 2014, this won't matter. But until then, the answer is, it depends.
Mostly it depends on what the insurance company considers a preexisting condition and what they will or will not cover. Also, most insurance companies use a certain formula or logarithm to determine eligibility. They may look at your medical history to see what conditions you have been diagnosed with, what you've been treated for, what medications you've taken, etc.
Compounding this is the fact that erectile dysfunction is usually not a standalone issue, but a symptom of another underlying condition, physical or psychological, like diabetes or clinical depression, and that is more likely to be what the insurance company will be looking at as far as preexisting conditions go.
Some insurance companies won't cover the cost of Viagra or other drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, and if that's the case, then my personal opinion is they shouldn't hold ED against you, since they won't cover its treatment anyway.
Both Tunisia and Thailand are attempting to curb the sale of counterfeit Viagra, although they're going about it in different ways.
The Tunisian Central Pharmacy - after 14 years - has finally relented to Pfizer's plan and has authorized the sale of Viagra in the country. Tunisian men suffering from ED now have legal access to the drug. Doctors are happy about the change in policy - they can now offer their patients with ED something more than counseling. The Tunisian government is working with Pfizer - who has been asking for years to enter the country's pharmaceutical market and finally got approval earlier this year.
Thailand, which also has a government-regulated pharmaceutical agency, has gone a different route. They've gotten approval from the FDA to manufacture a generic drug similar to Viagra, called Sidagra. Consumption of unsafe counterfeit Viagra is a problem in Thailand because the brand name drug is very expensive. Men in need - especially older men with limited incomes - resort to much cheaper and questionable black market products. With this new, reasonably priced generic available, hopefully the bottom will fall out of the illegal drug trade and consumers will be safer.
The FDA has come out with a statement recommending against the use of Revatio (sildenafil) to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in children under 17. Higher doses at this age, they say, can increase risk of death.
Revatio has been used in many pediatric applications, and it's a bit of a surprise to learn that it never was in fact approved for use in kids, so it's being used off label. In fact, the Revatio label will soon have a warning about use by youth.
Given the benefits of Revatio, it's likely doctors will continue to use it for pediatric treatment without the FDA's blessing.
A tiny baby with multiple birth defects, including a hole in her heart, is now a robust, chubby-cheeked toddler thanks to Viagra.
Baby Cerys, born 19 months ago in Wales, came into the world with no spleen, digestive problems, and a serious cardiac defect that required open-heart surgery at just five months of age. Doctors put her on a daily regimen of sildenafil, which is now often used to treat pulmonary hypertension in infants, and in this case helps her blood circulation. She gets a spoonful of liquid Viagra three times a day, along with other medications to manage her conditions.
Cerys took her first steps a couple of months ago, recently spoke her first words, and is now stringing together sentences. Apparently, one of her favorite phrases is "I want to walk." Also, "Talk to your doctor to see if Viagra is right for you," and "If you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, seek medical attention."
Cerys' doctors are hoping to wean her off Viagra eventually, but for now she's one of its youngest beneficiaries.
BACK
Return to Sex Education
If I have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction in the past, could this possibly count against me when applying for health insurance?
If current proposed health care reform stays in place, in 2014, this won't matter. But until then, the answer is, it depends.
Mostly it depends on what the insurance company considers a preexisting condition and what they will or will not cover. Also, most insurance companies use a certain formula or logarithm to determine eligibility. They may look at your medical history to see what conditions you have been diagnosed with, what you've been treated for, what medications you've taken, etc.
Compounding this is the fact that erectile dysfunction is usually not a standalone issue, but a symptom of another underlying condition, physical or psychological, like diabetes or clinical depression, and that is more likely to be what the insurance company will be looking at as far as preexisting conditions go.
Some insurance companies won't cover the cost of Viagra or other drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, and if that's the case, then my personal opinion is they shouldn't hold ED against you, since they won't cover its treatment anyway.
Two Countries Battle Counterfeits
Both Tunisia and Thailand are attempting to curb the sale of counterfeit Viagra, although they're going about it in different ways.
The Tunisian Central Pharmacy - after 14 years - has finally relented to Pfizer's plan and has authorized the sale of Viagra in the country. Tunisian men suffering from ED now have legal access to the drug. Doctors are happy about the change in policy - they can now offer their patients with ED something more than counseling. The Tunisian government is working with Pfizer - who has been asking for years to enter the country's pharmaceutical market and finally got approval earlier this year.
Thailand, which also has a government-regulated pharmaceutical agency, has gone a different route. They've gotten approval from the FDA to manufacture a generic drug similar to Viagra, called Sidagra. Consumption of unsafe counterfeit Viagra is a problem in Thailand because the brand name drug is very expensive. Men in need - especially older men with limited incomes - resort to much cheaper and questionable black market products. With this new, reasonably priced generic available, hopefully the bottom will fall out of the illegal drug trade and consumers will be safer.
FDA Reversing on Revatio for Kids
The FDA has come out with a statement recommending against the use of Revatio (sildenafil) to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in children under 17. Higher doses at this age, they say, can increase risk of death.
Revatio has been used in many pediatric applications, and it's a bit of a surprise to learn that it never was in fact approved for use in kids, so it's being used off label. In fact, the Revatio label will soon have a warning about use by youth.
Given the benefits of Revatio, it's likely doctors will continue to use it for pediatric treatment without the FDA's blessing.
Heartwarming Update: Toddler Saved by Viagra
A tiny baby with multiple birth defects, including a hole in her heart, is now a robust, chubby-cheeked toddler thanks to Viagra.
Baby Cerys, born 19 months ago in Wales, came into the world with no spleen, digestive problems, and a serious cardiac defect that required open-heart surgery at just five months of age. Doctors put her on a daily regimen of sildenafil, which is now often used to treat pulmonary hypertension in infants, and in this case helps her blood circulation. She gets a spoonful of liquid Viagra three times a day, along with other medications to manage her conditions.
Cerys took her first steps a couple of months ago, recently spoke her first words, and is now stringing together sentences. Apparently, one of her favorite phrases is "I want to walk." Also, "Talk to your doctor to see if Viagra is right for you," and "If you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, seek medical attention."
Cerys' doctors are hoping to wean her off Viagra eventually, but for now she's one of its youngest beneficiaries.
BACK
Return to Sex Education
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