insurance?

Does anyones insurance cover fertility? I just found out that my health insurance does not cover any part of fertility. Does anyone know if you can get a loan for fertility treatments or do some doctors set up payment options?

[Rebecca1978]

I think Massachusetts is only of the only states where insurance covers part of infertility treatments. Most fertility centers have payment plans - you should call one near you and find out.

[Hoping9]

Most of the insurance cover fertility medications at least. My old insurance did not cove IUI and IVF, but it did cover medications. Where are you located? Which state. Usually the fertility center should have a payment plan. Find out.

[BabyBlue07]

My insurance didn't cover for the IUI, IVF, and so on.. it does cover for the medication that i need to take.  

good luck

[bree0616]

I'm in Ohio and I have BCBS

[Hoping9]

BCBS should cover at least medications. Is it BCBS of ohio? Call the customer service and ask them about the coverage. Also ask for a brochure that describes the coverage or may be you can look up on the website. Mine is BCBS of Massachusetts and it covers up to certain amount.

[bree0616]

I called my insurance company earlier and the lady on the phone really was unsure because my work it changing my coverage at the beginning of the year. Thanks for the advise! I'm going to call back Monday and ask for some information. :)

[Tanker Chic]

Are you BCBS Federal?  If so that is the same thing I have.  It covers everything except for ART like IUI and IVF.  But it does cover all the evaluation, tests, surgery if needed, dr visitis, ultrasounds and meds related to infertility.  I never had to do IVF but I was treated by an RE (fertility specialists) for a year and had 3 IUIs.  For the dr visits all I had to pay was the copays and for the IUIs it was $300 each time.  Best of luck to you.  

[bree0616]

No I dont have federal I believe its BCBS PPO- Basic. Thank you. We were already planning on paying out of pocket for the IUIs, but I'm hoping that they will help w/ testing and ultrasounds!

[Helen72]

My coverage pays for infertility testing but not fertility treatment.  I think that's pretty common.  I hope at leasts testing is covered by your insurer.

[Tanker Chic]

Do you or your dh work for the government?  Mine is Basic option also. If either of you work for the government it is probably the same.  

[bree0616]

No, we dont work for the goverment. I just hope that they will help out w/ everything else besides the IUI.

[kindergal]

Like another poster above mentioned, your insurance may cover the testing--ex:  blood tests, HSG, Lapro., ultrasounds...etc..  I think part of it may be how your insurance is billed--EX:  When the Dr. office called my insurance for pre-approval for my HSG, they asked what it was for and the nurse said infertility testing.  The insurance co. said they would not pay for it then.  BUT, my Dr. sent them the bill and they paid it.  I guess no where on the bill did it state a reason for the procedure????  Mine also states it does not cover fertility issue, but it covered all of the tests. It will not cover the meds or IUIs or any other "treatments."

[crossing_our_fingers]

I'm in Ohio as well and I have BCBS. They didn't cover one red cent. It could depend on the plan your employer chose but we paid for everything out of pocket. It didn't even pay for the blood work I had done because it was for fertility reasons. I have med mutual as a secondary insurance and they didn't cover anything either. Both mine and my husband's insurance has NO coverage for fertility treatment. Good Luck. Where in Ohio are you?

[scienceteacher79]

BCBS in SC. I have the state employee insurance. They pay 70% up to $15,000 total.

[Helen72]

As I found out this week, your health care coverage does not just depend on your insurer but also on your employer.  For example, state law in TX states that insurancxe MUST offer all infertility treatments including IVF.  It's a state mandate.  However, employers don't have to accept the offer!  My employer accepted infertility tests from BCBS but not treatments probably in exchange for lower health care premiums.  I am starting treatments this month and will have to pay out of pocket.

[Tanker Chic]

I have also found it more useful to ask the dr's office what your insurance will cover than the actual insurance company themselves.  As a previous poster mentioned, sometimes it is how they file it.  

[bree0616]

My health insurance covered HSG, blood work for me and ultrasounds for me because the DR put the DX as painful periods. Then we paid out of pocket for DH to get semen tested. So, I am really greatful that we got all of this out of the way. Now I guess we have to pay for another semen test and vblood work for my DH. Thanks for every ones advise!

[prayin4baby]

Hi thankfully my insurance paid 100% for 3 IUI's and 3 IVF.  I have United Healthcare, but it's through my husbands job which offers great benefits.  I know my RE did offer payment plans.  Blessings to you!

[myluv4rain]

Prayin4baby...are you in the state of MD.? I am and that is basically what my insurance covers...actually mine is 6 iui's & 3 ivf's.

bree...Helen touched on what I was going to mention. I just got this book from the library, "New Hope for Couples with Infertility Problems", by Theresa Foy DiGeronimo. I just happened to be flipping through it a couple of days ago and wished I would've had it early on, when I 1st started all my tx's, because life would've been a lot easier for me. When this lady says you have to be your own advocate...it is so true! I, thank God that I spoke to someone at the insurance company I am with who told me about the Maryland State Mandate for Insurance coverage for Infert Tx. In this book, the author tells of the states that have a mandate, which are....AK, CA, CT, HI, IL, MD, MA, MT, NJ, NY, OH, RI, TX & WV. Unfortunately, there can be a lot of red tape!  Do an on line search for "Infertility State Mandate" for your state to see what you get.  Hope this helps.  

[bree0616]

Hi thank you for the advice. I found a website that shows what my state mandates. It only mandates that HMOshave to cover fertility. I have a PPO. My work has 3 or 4 different health plans so I'm going to find out if we have a PPO. Thank you!

[bree2008]

Thank you everyone for the great advice again! I changed my insurance over yesterday to an HMO. Now, the health insurance that I'll have at the beginning of the year will cover 70% of all fertility. Including IUI and IVF. I am sooooo excited. Thank you * I'm the same poster as above, I created a new login because the system wasn't resetting my password