My name is Samantha, and like many women worldwide, I am subject to the adverse side effects of hormonal birth control. The discomfort I've endured in the past makes it impossible for me to rely on hormonal contraceptives, leaving me with limited options to protect myself and plan my family, an integral part of my personal life and overall women's right.

This is a situation experienced by many women - according to the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, nearly 18% of women have stopped using hormonal birth control due to side effects. As an alternative, many women are turning towards non-hormonal options like Natural Cycles birth control. However, this alternatives is not covered by Tricare insurance, making them inaccessible for a significant number of women, although it is an FDA-approved form of birth control.

It's in this context that I am calling on Tricare Insurance to extend its coverage to include Natural Cycles birth control. The addition of Natural Cycles to Tricare's list of covered treatments would promote accessibility and choices for women in contraceptive options, aligning with their mission to "enhance the health, fitness, and quality of life of its beneficiaries."

Please join me in urging Tricare Insurance to amend their coverage policy in favor of non-hormonal contraceptive options. Every signature counts in empowering women to have control over their bodies without bearing the brunt of side effects from hormonal birth control methods. Sign the petition now, and together, we can make a difference.

Cost Anaylsis: 

I have decided to scratch the surface on cost difference between hormonal and natural cycles birth control. I am adding this to prove it would actually be beneficial for insurance companies to cover Natural Cycles. There are many women who would switch to Natural Cycles instead of hormonal birth control if the option was given to them. 

For starters, there are many different types of hormonal birth control. Options include the oral pill, IUDs, implants, etc. Natural Cycles includes a thermometer, which they offer to send the subscriber when paying annually. 

Now to break down the cost:

The birth control pill- can be $10-$50 for insurances  monthly, which does not include the cost of the doctors visit to prescribe the birth control. ($120-$600/annual) 

IUD- insertion ranges from $500-$1,500 (but given the IUD can last 3-5 years that breaks down to $100-$300/annually) this also does not include the cost of the Dr appointment to remove the IUD

Implants- can cost $500-$1,000 and last up to 3 years ($170-$350/annually). This also does not include the cost of maintenance. 

These hormonal birth control costs also do not count the costs of other doctor appointments needed due to the effect of birth control. I can speak for myself and many other women I have met when I say the hormonal birth control lead to many other doctor appointments. While trying to figure out what was wrong, I continued to go to the doctors to get checked out. These visits add up to several hundreds of dollars for insurance. However, once I got off hormonal birth control, my side effects subsided and I no longer needed regular check ups. 

Many insurance companies pay for all of hormonal birth control, or have a very minimal co-pay that goes along with the hormonal birth control. That means the insurance takes the brunt of these costs (in addition the math is done in cost to insurer not per the bill). 

Now the cost of Natural Family Planning (NFP):

Natural Cycles-$80-120/year 

Thermometers- $20-30 one time payment 

Some women may choose that they want to go to a class or doctor appointment to learn about proper NFP. 

In comparison hormonal birth control costs the insurer $100-$1,500/year whereas Natural Cycles is $80-$120 per year. This proves that it would be in insurance companies interest cover Natural Cycles as it could save them money.

Natural Cycles is likely less expensive for insurers because it involves fewer medical procedures and no ongoing pharmaceutical costs.