re: .deleted.

What's next? Lol.

Quoting JiLLiAN.:" but wouldn't that then require medicaid to cover it? which technically is the state and taxpayers..."

Medicaid doesn't currently cover infertility treatments in states that mandate infertility coverage.

I'm totally seeing this from a different side. As someone who lives in a non-mandated state and who has so far put ~$40k into fertility treatments (and more to come), I feel the need for mandated coverage. There is something physically wrong with our bodies that is not allowing us to conceive and carry our own babies.

Insurance covers many types of cosmetic procedures due to congenital defects or accidents etc. For example, they won't cover a breast augmentation for a woman who feels her breasts are too small but will cover reconstruction after a mastectomy. It's not as though insurance is free. We pay and arm and a leg for our insurance and it would be amazing for us if infertility could be covered.

I understand why it is not though. Infertility is so very crushing but I had no idea just how awful it could be for someone until I had experienced it myself. I believe this is why coverage is not already mandated for all states. Most people are not able to understand without having experienced it.

Quoting Amelia Margaret:" I'm totally seeing this from a different side. As someone who lives in a non-mandated state and who has ... [snip!] ... is why coverage is not already mandated for all states. Most people are not able to understand without having experienced it."

 

Sounds like some of you don’t understand the petition.. I live in Illinois where there is a state mandate for infertility coverage. People on medicaid are not eligible. Example; you have to have an HMO plan and the company you work for must have over 25 employees to be eligible. The petition isn't to make state insurance (Medicaid) cover infertility. The petition is to make it law that insurance companies such as blue cross blue shield will cover diagnostic testing for infertility such as simple hormonal blood work, ultrasounds.. Many insurance companies will not cover blood work test even test for PCOS, the lab work is over $1000.


I don’t see how getting blood work and ultrasounds done to figure out what’s going on with your body is elective? I didn't make the choice to have PCOS, there’s so much more to PCOS than infertility.. PCOS can lead to diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and uterine cancer from going a long time without a period.

I cannot believe some of you even bothered commenting on this.

She posted it in the TTC forum where many of us are dealing with infertility and the expenses that come along with getting it diagnosed. It is, whether anyone wants or likes to admit it, a DISEASE. And just like any other disease, medical testing is required in order to properly diagnose it. No one is asking that things which are elective such as IVF be covered.

Things like blood tests, ultrasounds, semen analysis, etc SHOULD be covered instead of having to get the very same test ordered by different types of doctors just to have it covered. If a urologist orders a semen analysis, it might be covered, but when a reproductive endocrinologist orders the very same test--to rule out any problems and diagnose an issue--it's not. How fair is that?

There is nothing "elective" about being infertile.

Quoting Spookshow Baby☠:"   Sounds like some of you don’t understand the petition.. I live in Illinois where there is a state ... [snip!] ... infertility.. PCOS can lead to diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and uterine cancer from going a long time without a period. "

Exactly!

Quoting Laykin.:" I cannot believe some of you even bothered commenting on this. She posted it in the TTC forum where ... [snip!] ... rule out any problems and diagnose an issue--it's not. How fair is that? There is nothing "elective" about being infertile. "

This "petition" isn't very detailed, which is a big reason why I didn't sign it.

All it says is a blanket to cover infertility treatment.

I would support basic testing to find out what is going on (if there are problems), but I could never support making it mandatory for insurance to cover IVF or other things like that

the problem that i have is that it could open the door for people to try and get ivf or other procedures covered

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" This "petition" isn't very detailed, which is a big reason why I didn't sign it. All it says is a ... [snip!] ... like that the problem that i have is that it could open the door for people to try and get ivf or other procedures covered"

I can see where you're going with that and if I hadn't been through IVF myself I might be more inclined to agree. But IVF is not a fun or easy experience. I find it hard to believe many women (if any) would electively choose IVF if they can conceive naturally. I mean, why?? With exception being given to genetic testing for things like gender selection which are never covered in any plan in any state. I honestly can't think of another reason why a woman would put herself through that if she can do it the old fashioned way.

I honestly don't think elective IVF would be an issue at all, or if so it would be very uncommon. One would absolutely need a diagnosis of infertility and as far as I know states that currently mandate IVF don't have this problem.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" This "petition" isn't very detailed, which is a big reason why I didn't sign it. All it says is a ... [snip!] ... like that the problem that i have is that it could open the door for people to try and get ivf or other procedures covered"

I'll give you that since it isn't very detailed. Hopefully, they revise it a bit and make it more specific/