Many plans do not cover prescription contraceptives, even though they cover other prescription drugs. Choice of primary care provider. A woman in her reproductive years may prefer to see an ob-gyn provider for her primary care, while an elderly woman may prefer someone with specific training or expertise in geriatrics. A woman should also be able to choose a pediatrician as the primary care provider for her children. Direct access to ob-gyn services.
Women have unique reproductive health care needs.
Access to family planning clinics and other community-based providers. Women enrolled in managed care plans, especially women who have no choice of what plan to join, should be able to continue receiving certain types of care from providers they have come to rely on and can get to easily. This is especially important when it comes to family planning and other reproductive health services. Young women and teens, for example, may be more comfortable learning about sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention from community providers they have established relationships with. These community providers are often better able to bridge the cultural, language, and transportation barriers that limit access to care for many low-income and minority women.