[adnelg775]

We need a new board that is all about how to strangle everyone at your health insurance company!
Seriously, I am in the middle of trying to find out exactly WHY doesn't my ins. cover IVF? I live in NJ, my company employs more than 50 people, I don't work for the federal government, so what's the problem? The only thing I can think of is maybe my company does the self-funded option. If they do that it means they don't have to follow the state mandates. Great. Bless the person who came up with the idea that if a company has a lot of money, they can basically pay off the insurance company, and then be ABOVE THE LAW. ASRM: State Infertility Insurance Laws
No offense to all the gals who have to pay for infertility themselves (whose ranks I may shortly be joining ). It's the principle of the thing that bothers me. I hear stories from people and have had personal experience with insurance companies where they will turn you down for no reason, other than the fact that most people won't contest the rejection. Then when you read their own regulations to them, they say " Oh we made a mistake, yes, you are covered"

[BeckyM]

I would definitely be a member!! I'm currently fighting with my own insurance company. They appeared to at first cover all our infertility treatments, and in fact covered $1000s of dollars with all our initial testing, DH's biopsy, s/a, etc. But once they found out he is completely infertile, and we'll now be using donor sperm they're denying coverage for ANY of our fertility treatments including IUI & IVF!! But here's the kicker to all of this, they DO offer coverage to same sex couples. While I find it wonderful that they do offer coverage for employees who are in domestic partnerships, including same sex, I find it not equitable that they would offer coverage for 2 ladies who obviously have to use donor sperm to conceive but turn around and deny it for us. From a medical perspective, we fit the same criteria as we too are unable to provide our own sperm. Grrrrrr!!! My HR dept has now filed an appeal on my behalf as well, and we may end up getting a lawyer involved which of course cost $$$$ to.

I have heard of that self-funded option, and thought it was horrible. Have you contacted your HR dept to see if your company does do that? Have you read your insurance booklet and all updates thoroughly? Alot of times, they won't tell you when an update has been made, AND they don't read their own updates either. I've had them deny coverage for previous items, and once I sent them copies of their own updates, they were like Oops, it is covered. Grrrrr!!!

They can definitely drive us insane!!! I hope you find some answers soon!!

[Hoosier Kitty]

Smile... welcome to the club.

I too understand about the insurance and I live in mandated state of Lovely Maryland same as Becky... My insurance doesnt cover fertility treatments or IVF.. yet they cover pregnancy 100%!!!! Lovely isn't it?

I would keep trying and find out the loopholes.

[Clare]

I dont really know how the different types of insurance work in the USA - but i do know things can be so unfair. Im sorry your having to deal with this.

[flowergal]

It's gonna take big wigs of insurance companies having infertility experiences. Until it hurts the "higher ups" it will not get the attention or money that it needs. It's gonna take a big wig having a daughter who needs IVF.....a son....a big wig himself/herself having problems.

People need to talk about it more...More celebrities need to come out...it's needs more press and more awareness.
All of this is my humble opinion.

[LBinDesMoines]

I agree - I'd join too- I work for a gigantic bank and they cover just a tiny bit of IF $10,000 lifetime max and absolutely no IVF. So even if I wanted to do one cycle they wouldn't cover it.

[KMH]

...lurking...

This definitely won't solve all the problems, or explain why some states will cover hair plugs, but not IVF...but...

If you ever need help understanding your health insurance coverage for fertility, call the insurance specialists at Fertility Lifelines. It is a free service, and they will get in contact with your insurance provider and call you back to explain exactly what is and is not covered. They'll also send you everything in writing. This is a free, confidential service, and they also have nurses and counselors that you can talk to about your infertility frustrations. The number is 1-866-LETS-TRY, and you can also find out more at Infertility Treatment and Information - Fertility LifeLines

[BeckyM]

Thanks, Melissa for sharing that link!!! (and thanks for lurking & responding ) - I hope everyone can get some clarification on what is & isn't covered!!

With us, we're still waiting on the appeal process. And yes, even though I did get pg, we're still proceeding with the appeal. I still don't think it's fair.