Seniors Urge Medicare and Insurers to Cover Drugs That Aid Sexual Experience
The discussion on sex as a necessary human act to maintain health versus being simply a pleasurable experience has taken the limelight recently with seniors asking the government to include drugs designed for sexual enhancement to be part of its roster for Part D prescription medication coverage.
Medicare and private insurance companies currently do not cover such types of drugs, noting that they are not a requirement for basic health. However, it seems that the tides are about to change as legitimate health organizations start pushing for the consideration and classification of certain sexual enhancement drugs as a medical necessity.
Senior Sexual Health
Having a healthy sex life is a big concern amongst seniors, or those aged 65 years and up. Most assessments of sexual health are anchored on five stages of bodily and mental changes, consisting of desire, arousal (excitement), plateau, orgasm, and resolution. It is when all these stages are fulfilled that one can call his or her sex life “alive and kicking.” Unfortunately, even as many humans fail to complete these stages while they are young, the problem worsens with advancing age.
At least 30% of the elderly in the U.S. has at least one complaint related to sexual function and that’s not limited to their ability to have and enjoy sex. Many disorders related to this problem include lower urinary tract symptoms, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. There are times where counseling and reassurance is well received and actually works. In most cases, however, the problem is rooted in science and can only be treated with prescription medication — and the drugs can be quite costly.
Sexual Dysfunction in Senior Males
According to the Honor Society of Nursing, there are over 30 million American males that suffer erectile dysfunction (ED), which is the inability to hold an erection in order to have sex. ED is a condition that heightens with age, though it is not exclusive to the more senior members of society. Medications such as Vardenafil (Levitra), sildenafil (Viagra), and Tadalafil (Cialis) have been very helpful for men of all ages in keeping an erection to enjoy sexual relationships.
Other sexual issues that males face include premature ejaculation, low libido, and delayed or inhibited ejaculation. Typically, these conditions are chalked up to low testosterone levels (which worsens as one gets older), but they can also be due to blood vessel disorders and high blood pressure, nerve damage and a history of stroke.
In addition to being unable to be satisfied and to satisfy a partner during sex, these male sexual dysfunction issues have also been observed to affect one’s psychological well-being. Such conditions may include depression and guilt feelings, anxiety and stress, and relationship problems. These are the reasons why advocates of including sexual health drugs under Medicare and insurance coverage are pushing for a change.
Sexual Dysfunction in Senior Females
Among females, the inability to engage in a proper sexual experience can also be problematic both psychologically and physiologically. In fact, surveys have shown that they are more prevalent among women than men, only that women are not so vocal about it, with 43% of females experiencing any sort of sexual problem compared to 31% of males.
Some of the common issues linked to women include a lack of interest in sex, the inability to feel aroused, anorgasmia (absence of orgasms), and pain during intercourse. These health conditions have been proven to be rooted on many physiological factors such as hormonal changes, previous treatments and medical conditions, stress and fatigue. Careers and taking care of children and the family also tend to wear women down physically, making them unable to enjoy or even have sex with their partners.
One issue that is particularly concerning for women is painful intercourse. This can be caused by a number of underlying issues such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, vaginitis, and poor lubrication, among others. When a woman reaches postmenopausal stage, the problems get worse, with dyspareunia or vaginal dryness and vulvovaginal atrophy as factors.
Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a statement that allows the inclusion of prescription drugs to treat dyspareunia in postmenopausal females to the list of Medicare Part D drugs.
The North American Menopause Society applauded the revision, saying that dyspareunia should not be classified as a mere sexual dysfunction but as a symptom of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). This condition is the result of a drop in estrogen levels, leading to a thinning of the tissues in the vagina. NAMS estimates that up to 70% of the around 64 million postmenopausal women in American will experience these symptoms.
Current Cost of Maintaining a Healthy Sexual Function in the U.S.
While prescription drugs for sexual dysfunction are available for seniors in the U.S., they are expensive. A 10-tablet prescription for 50mg of Viagra can come with a $600 price tag, while eight Vagifem tablets can cost over $200. Without Medicare and insurance support, seniors can expect to extinguish their retirement savings on these aids or else swear off sex altogether.
The problem is not about to subside anytime soon, with the latest Zion Market Research predicting that the market for global erectile dysfunction drugs will reach $7.10 billion by the year 2024, from $4.82 billion in 2017. North America is the largest market for such medications.
Some new CMS (Medicare) guidance on including certain prescription drugs that can treat sexual dysfunction alongside medically necessary solutions would be a big step toward recognizing that sexual health is as important as the other age-related conditions that Medicare and insurance entities consider for their drug coverage.
