Clomid Challenge, Meds & Insurance

The nurse told me I need to do the Clomid Challenge before insurance company will approve IVF.  I just called the insurance company and they didn't even know what the Clomid Challenge is!  Anyone know for sure what the process is.  I'm with blue cross blue shield.  Also, doctor told me when I started on IUI that gonal f was the drug of choice for the insurance company.  This turns out not to be the case either.  Does anyone know if insurance companies get to choose the drug of choice?  I've reached my cap on fertility meds and now have to pay out of pocket.  I've found out that I can get Follistim at a discounted rate and want to try it.  The clomid challenge and then waiting for insurance approval is going to set me back a couple of months.  I'm really annoyed that I can't move forward.

[cristina700]

i do believe the clomid challenge is to put you on clomid for six mths, to see how it works. I started clomid on tuesday today is my third day.  My ob\gyn doc told me we will try for six months to see how it takes.  So I think that is the challenge.  I have never heard of the ins company choosing the drug of choice, i also have bcbs.  Were you on anything before the clomid?  The clomid is the frist thing My doc put me on.?  best of luck to you.

[kindergal]

The Clomid Challenge is to have you take it for one month at a certain dosage and monitor your progress on it...multiple blood tests...etc..  It is to check your FSH levels...etc...
If your ins. covers Clomid, you are fine.  My ins. does not, but it does cover all blood tests and such.

I did Clomid for four months.  I am now doing injectables and receive my meds overseas from England...as recommended by my RE!!!!

[fifi blue]

I did 2 months of Clomid, then had 3 rounds of IUI with injectibles.  I'm doing FSH test on cd 3 starting clomid cd 5 -9 and then another fsh test on day 10.  Insurance covers everything except meds.