At $360 a pop, Medicare has spent a total of $172 million on penis pumps over the last five years, Samantha Bee learned in a recent report for the Daily Show. That’s a total of 477,777 federally-funded penis pumps.
Bee interviewed NARAL president Ilyse Hogue about the double standards in the debate over the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate. Some lawmakers believe women should have to pay for their own birth control. Viagra and penis pumps, however, should remain covered.
So why the discrepancy?
“Statistics show that probably some members of our congress have a vested interest in having penis pumps covered,” Hogue explained as images of several white-haired congressman rolled across the screen.
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What do you think? Should penis pumps be covered by Medicare when birth control is not?
Check out Bee’s hilarious investigation here.
mingyao
Medicare is for people over 65. Men over 65 still have penises, while women over 65 are no longer ovulating… or was this supposed to be about the ACA?
GreatGatsby2011
@mingyao: Medicare is also for disabled people under the age of 65.
GreatGatsby2011
I’m confused.
Is this article saying that the ACA’s contraception mandate states women should have to pay for their own birth control? Because that’s the opposite of what it states which is why a lawsuit has been filed against the mandate.
Maybe I’m just reading it wrong.
Bromancer7
@mingyao: Well both are federal programs, so it seems odd they would cover one but not the other. And Medicare isn’t just for the elderly, it is also given to the disabled, who, y’know, still have sex and can be of child-bearing age.
FWTW, Medicare only pays for one HIV test a year, and only if you’re considered “high risk”.
Bromancer7
@GreatGatsby2011: As usual, you’re overthinking it. And yes, you’re reading it wrong. Try again.
GreatGatsby2011
@Bromancer7: Well, considering the fact that the article was changed from:
“Bee interviewed NARAL president Ilyse Hogue about the double standards in the debate over the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandat, which states women should have to pay for their own birth control.”
to
“Bee interviewed NARAL president Ilyse Hogue about the double standards in the debate over the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate. Some lawmakers believe women should have to pay for their own birth control.”
after I posted my comment, it’s pretty evident I wasn’t reading it wrong.
But thanks for responding to my comment in such a polite manner. With a personality like that you must be beating the men off with a stick.
Stay classy.
RomanHans
How are these remotely comparable? Penis pumps help men who have recently developed a handicap. Contraception prevents pregnancy. When unaborted fetuses stop women from walking, we can talk.
mingyao
Do flaccid penises stop men from walking (or wanking)?
NateOcean
Most members of congress are men. Most are over 65. And most can’t get boners any more.
Is it any wonder that they would conceive of a government program to buy themselves penis pumps?
What’s next? Fisting gloves and Crisco® buckets? Gold plated butt-plugs?
Joetx
@RomanHans: Contraception & abortion are NOT the same thing.
Bjk
If midicare paid for condoms but not for female contraceptives, that would be an argument. However, comparing penis pumps to female contraceptives really lacks reason. Penis pumps help restore an organ to function, contraceptives do not.
I still think female contraceptives should be free to fertile women, I’m just sick of this faulty comparison.
Bromancer7
@GreatGatsby2011: Nah, you’re just easily confused. It’s ok. I forgive you.
GreatGatsby2011
@Bromancer7: Oh thank goodness. I have your forgiveness. I can sleep at night again.
PARKAVMAN
I’ve never had any erectile dysfunction treatment covered my private insurance or Medicare. Even with Prostate Cancer and treatment.
Franklin
Ummm, ya’ll do know that some women take birth control pills for reasons medical reasons other than contraception? Also, yes I do think that it’s funny the penis pumps are are federally funded, given that one of the justifications for denying contraception coverage to women was that sex is recreational.
Tommy
Medicare is for the disabled (and elderly). That being said, erectile dysfunction (random disability I chose) would fall into a disability and should be covered.