My wife and I successfully got through our infertility challenges about 3 years ago and now have a wonderful daughter.
Now that we've gotten our feet back under us we are going to launch a new free website to try to help others better navigate the maze of infertility and IVF regulations and data. The site will be 100% free and completely unaffiliated with any practices, insurance companies.
Right now we're thinking of better ways to make data about practices, insurance policies, labs, and doctors useful for consumers. Anyone care to share the challenges they've faced, in dealing with doctors, clinics, insurance companies,etc? Any ideas on what you'd find helpful?
Insurance companies.. it is great to have coverage but a PITA to deal with.
State of IL has a mandate to cover IVF but the mandate is only for HMO insurances. If your company has a PPO policy, it is considered self insured and does not have to go by the state mandate. This was news to me at first, I thought since I live in IL I was covered. When I got my huge pharmacy bill, I found out otherwise.
Per State of IL mandate, the HMO will cover 4 cycles, but if you have had cycles paid out of pocket or paid by another insurance policy they will deduct those cycles from the 4.
Keep us posted on your site. Sounds really interesting.
Chris
Chris 40- DH 41
6 IVFs Cycles - BFN's
DE Cycle 2/2011 -BFP Jacob born 11/11/11
This is exactly the type of insanity that we want to try to help people with. As if the biological challenges aren't enough.
Can you send me any information about the IL mandate? I'd love to figure out some way of listing the states mandating coverage...and then the nuances of the different mandates.
Great that u guys want to put the info out there.....In Connecticut-IVF may be covered-but many are not.....I am a nurse myself-but my company offers NO ivf coverage -we have anthem blue cross blue shield as our insurer.....anyway thank GOD our 1st cycle worked because our one and only cycle cost almost 25 thousand dollars-but oh so worth it in the end as we were blessed with our perfect baby boy. It's crazy that many people cannot afford to try to be parents.....very sad actually-We are cutting every corner that we can to pay the bills now but I will be eternally grateful to every doc and medical person who helped to complete our family.