The Title X program has provided important contraceptive and other health care services since 1970. VasWeb has been providing vasectomies under Title X since 1996. The program has been scrutinized by Congress every year and has always proven to be a valuable asset to uninsured Americans with low income, preventing thousnads of unintended pregnancies and abortions annually.
Title X (Ten)
If your income is low and you have no health insurance that covers vasectomy, Federal Title X (Ten) grant money is available in Florida and nationwide to help fund family planning services, including vasectomy. Most of these federal Title X funds are allocated through county health departments. VasWeb is contracted to provide vasectomies for many county health departments in Florida. Please see our Guide to Florida Health Department Vasectomy Programs. If you live in a county whose health department has no vasectomy program or no federal funds available for vasectomy, you may apply for financial aid through the health department of a neighboring county.
The VA (Veterans Administration)
While we are no longer providers through the VA, veterans may be able to get a vasectomy at no cost at a VA hospital or clinic.
Medicaid
We have learned that, when it comes to procuring vasectomy services, Medicaid can be more of a hindrance than a benefit. Some county health departments will deny Title 10 funding for patients who are on straight Medicaid or enrolled in Medicaid HMO's. Medicaid has a reputation of paying so slowly that few doctors wish to participate. Certain county health departments participate, but they may require referral authorizations from the Medicaid primary care physicians, and getting a referral authorization may be discouragingly slow. VasWeb doctors are no longer providers of vasectomy services under Medicaid because the reimbursement is low ($143) and the paperwork unbearable. However, some county health departments will offer Title 10 financial assistance to men with Medicaid if there are no local providers of vasectomy services under the Medicaid program.
Medicaid tries to shift all Medicaid patients to Medicaid HMO's, sometimes without the Medicaid recipient even being aware of the shift. VasWeb doctors are not contracted providers with any Medicaid HMOs. Ambetter is a Medicaid HMO. Staywell is another Medicaid HMO in Florida, parented by WellCare. Staywell's website clearly states that, "Sometimes we may not have a provider in our network who can give you needed care; if this happens, we will cover the care out-of-network (at no additional cost to you), but you will need to get approval first from us or your PCP." If they say they have no vasectomy provider, insist on out-of-network coverage.
