Ask Me Help Desk - Will insurance cover a vasectomy, or am I too young?

I'm 19 (almost 20 in two weeks) and I've known since I was about 15 that I don't want children. There are several reasons, one being I'd make a terrible parent, and another simply being I don't want kids. The world's overpopulated as it is and I don't want to shell out $500,000 on a child who will grow up in a crappy world. Anyway, I've been doing some research and discovered that most insurance companies won't cover vasectomy, yet alone at my age. My question is: why? More often than not it's less than $1000 (my sisters a nurse). An average trip to the delivery room costs about $10,000! Why wouldn't the insurance cover the cheaper option, as opposed to the much more expensive one? I'd be doing the world a favour by getting a vasectomy performed. I'm not currently active, but I'm planning on finding a girlfriend in the near-future and most likely become active. Condoms aren't 100% effective, neither are birth control pills. I don't want to end with a child and have to raise it. Again, I'd be a terrible parent. My sister told me most doctors won't even perform vasectomy's unless you're older and or have already have a couple kids. I find this unfair and immoral. Hospitals are about making money... sad but true, why wouldn't they want $500-1000 for a simple procedure? Who are they to deny someone because they arrogantly think they know what's best?

The primary reason vasectomies are not performed at such a young age is that the majority of young men change their minds later in life when they find their soul mates and decide that they do want to have children. At that time the reversal is extremely expensive and not at all guaranteed effective.

First you will find most health insurance has many limitations. Most have to be for treatment that is needed. This is not a required medical treatment. So no it is not surprising that it is not covered.

Also it is done in many outpatient clinics not always the hospital, so you can shop around.

The other, if you can not afford a procedure that is less than 1000 dollars, how could you afford a baby. Perhaps you need to start saving money, if this is such an important issue in your life.

But I agree, you will find a doctor if you keep looking but most will not want to at such a early age

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I've been doing some research and discovered that most insurance companies won't cover vasectomy, yet alone at my age. My question is: why?

This is not a medical necessity, it is an option. That is why.

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An average trip to the delivery room costs about $10,000! Why wouldn't the insurance cover the cheaper option, as opposed to the much more expensive one?

It's almost as expensive for a reversal. The majority of men end up changing their minds when they meed their "soul mate" and the reversal isn't guaranteed.

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My sister told me most doctors won't even perform vasectomy's unless you're older and or have already have a couple kids.

Same goes for a tubal ligation for women. The reversal is expensive and not guaranteed should she change her mind in the future.

I understand your dilemma, however this is an elective procedure. Insurance doesn't cover elective procedures, only medical necessitate procedures.

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Who are they to deny someone because they arrogantly think they know what's best?

If your sister is a nurse, ask her what evidence based practice means. In this case, evidence based practice in this case means that evidence has shown that most men who have this procedure so early on in life tend to change their minds later on in life.