Why Health Care Reform is Important to Cesarean Section Mothers

Today, while many are cheering the passing of the reform, others are thumbing their nose at it. I sit here in the middle of the road but certainly grateful for a specific portion of this bill not allowing providers to deny medical coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Her name is Peggy Robertson, and she has been in the spotlight from ABC World News Tonight, to being an mother directly connected to ICAN, or testifying in front of the Senate, she has certainly made a splash in the health care reform debate.

Today, while many are cheering the passing of the reform, others are thumbing their nose at it. I sit here in the middle of the road but certainly grateful for a specific portion of this bill not allowing providers to deny medical coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Back to Peggy. When Peggy and her husband, self employed went looking for a more affordable insurance plan, she was denied coverage through a company by the name of Golden Rule. When Peggy inquired as to why she was denied, the company told her because she had a previous cesarean section, she was more likely to have a subsequent cesarean. But if she was interested in getting steralized, they would consider covering her.

Yes, she was told the only way she could be covered is if she went and had her tubes tied, something she did not wish to do.

Now, far be it for me to speak for Peggy, but if someone told me something like that, I would be completely LIVID!

Moral of this story today, insurance companies will no longer be able to pull crap like this with women who have had previous cesarean sections. Nor will anyone wit what is considered a “pre-existing” medical condition, such as domestic violence victims be denied.

It is sad we needed a bill to make these changes though.