FIGHT FOR IVF HEALTHCARE COVERAGE

[AMORE0305]

DEAR EVERYONE,

ATTACHED PLEASE FIND A LINK TO THE OBAMA-BIDEN HEALTHCARE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR STORY. IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND WE EACH SUBMIT OUR STORY , WE MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERANCE. LETS ALL STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR INFERTILITY TO BE RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED AS A MEDICAL DISEASE. WE NEED TO MAKE IVF, IUI AND ALL INFERTILITY TREATMENT PART OF EVERY INSURANCE. THEY ALL NEED TO COVER IT. I HAVE BEEN IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS IF ABORTION IS A COVERED SERVICE WITH MEDICAL INSURANCE SO SHOULD INFERTILITY TREATMENTS. LETS HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR STORY TO THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
http://change.gov/page/s/healthcare

THANK YOU,
MARIA

[esperanza]

Hey Maria, thank you for this post, I will def visit the website and share my story. DH and I were lucky to have been living in MA (where infertility is considered a disease) when we did our IVF cycles, if it had not been for our insurance coverage we would not be expecting this baby today...it's just too darn expensive and out of our reach. I'd love for everyone else outthere to have the same rights.

[JennLB25]

Thanks for this, I did go to the site and posted my response (request for IVF coverage).

Great idea....if he hears from enough of us, maybe something will be done.

[kbat]

I think it's important. I live in RI where insurance has to cover 80% of it. I was fortunate to have coverage out of Mass (much better rules than RI--it's covered 100% w/ co-pays on the meds.) I maxed out the insurance of 6 IVF cycles and would have continued w/ more if the insurance covered more. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ever tried. It's kind of bittersweet because it didn't work, but because it was covered, I wanted to try to continue to do it, but couldn't because I maxed out the insurance....I guess most people don't even get 6 though..... I'm all for the insurance coverage. Most of us, if not all, do this because it's usually some sort of medical problems (endo, block tubes, sperm issues) that are beyond our control....

Let's hope everyone gets the same chances that I did...

[CT_Michele]

This is what I wrote, i hope it helps:

I am fortunate enough to live in a state that requires insurance companies to cover the costs of infertility treatments. I am finally able to say that I am lucky enough to be a mom and have a family because of the laws in CT. I have been blessed with a beautiful daughter who is almost 4 months old and it was only possible through fertility treatments. My husband and I are both college students who work in social services (a teacher and a group home manager) so we do not make a hefty income. We found out that we would not be able to have a child without assistance, and we could never pay for the procedure out of pocket. As I said, our insurance payed for the procedure, but many couples are not as lucky as we are. I belong to an online forum, www.ivf-infertility.com, where couples who are struggling with infertility gather to share their stories and give each other support. You can go on that website and read hundreds of stories about couples who have mortgaged their life away all for the dream of having a child. The people on this forum have started a discussion asking for us to share our stories with you, so you realize how important this issue is. Please pass laws that will help make the dream of having a family possible for all. Thank you.

[wonderce]

Thanks Maria! I just went on the site and shared my story. DH and I have paid for over 3 years worth of infertility treatments out of pocket, including thousands and thousands on medicines, treatments, and lastly IVF. I think it's terrible that some insurance companies/states don't cover it. I hope we can make a change.