Medicare Drops Coverage Of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

Filed in archive News on September 29, 2006

Many diabetic men struggle with the inconvenience and embarrassment of impotence. Drugs such as Viagra proved helpful to many, but one major health plan is dropping its coverage of the drugs.

Erectile dysfunction, which primarily plagues senior men, is dropping off the Medicare radar and many - probably most - of the plans will not cover the treatment drugs for this condition in 2007. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are drugs seniors are just not finding on the formularies.

In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury, or side effects of drugs, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Any disorder that causes injury to the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause ED.

The American Urological Association agrees, saying, "By far, the most important cause of the development of ED is the presence of illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease.

Is this a fair decision?