Thursday, April 30, 1998
Those of us who spend much of our free time [read: non-
revenue-producing time] hassling with insurance companies
got a special thrill last night when the national TV news
shows revealed that BlueCross/BlueShield of California has
decided that their impotent subscribers will only be entitled
to a maximum of six orgasms per month.
Actually, it is a little worse; they will get six TRIES
per month under the BC/BS rules. The Blues have decided
to cover only six $10 Viagra tables a month under the
announced policy, which, more precisely, governs the
number of erections, not orgasms. Obviously some men will,
with their partner's cooperation, or perhaps without it,
take advantage of the four-hour latency of the Viagra pill
to accumulate extra orgasms during their six monthly erections.
There was no indication in the announcement of rebates
for failed opportunities; for example, if "he" pops a
Viagra at 9 PM, unaware that "she" has also taken a
prescribed migraine medication at the same time.
There is also no word yet on the Viagra reimbursement
policies of Medicare. Some sources say that Medicare
may limit those over 65 to six erections per year, while
others contend that erections are not even necessary for
senior citizens.
In Washington, worried Republican leaders are proposing
a life-time cap on the number of erections that would
be covered. But the Religious Right is threatening to
shift loyalties, arguing that limiting the number of
erections is a form of artificial birth control and
is inherently not "pro life".
NOW is reportedly considering legislative proposals that
would require equal opportunities for women to obtain
Viagra for enhanced sexual lubrication. Sources within
BC/BS have reportedly offered to give women 70% of the
amount available to men, but NOW is insisting on full
parity.
And in Key West, Florida, the City Commissioners voted
to extend Viagra benefits to Registered "Lifetime
Partners" as well as married couples. They only last
month enacted legislation to provide insurance benefits
to those employees who take out the $50 registration.
Initial reaction from BC/BS was cold to the proposal,
on the grounds that only one of the partners should be
allowed to have erections.
Meanwhile, Rooters News Service reported that the first
Viagra-related divorce suit was filed in Bryn Mawr, Pa,
after a woman discovered three of her husband's Viagra
tablets missing from the medicine chest. "I don't know
who got the benefits", the waitress said. "but I know I
didn't get screwed, I got stiffed!"
We'll keep you "posted" on this.
John D. Perry, PhD
Today's Quote:
"It's only the 15th of the month,
and I've only got one pill left!"
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