My husband would like to get a vasectomy but when I checked with our insurer, they told me that the plan would cover my sterilization without cost-sharing, but we would have to pay part of the costs for his procedure. What is the reason for that?

The ACA requires most private health plans to cover birth control, including sterilization, for women, but they are not required to cover sterilization (vasectomies) for men. However, nine states (CA, IL, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, and WA) require certain health plans in those states to cover vasectomies, at no cost to the patient. Check with your insurance plan or state insurance department for more information.