Insurance and fertility
June 19th, 2007 by Kishore
Almost no insurance coverage exists for fertility treatments, even if your plan covers obstetrics. However, a new bill in front of Congress aims to change that. Rep. Anthony Weiner introduced legislation a couple years ago regarding infertility coverage. The bill is now being resubmitted to Congress.
A few highlights of the bill include:
* The bill acknowledges in its opening lines that infertility affects approximately 10% of the reproductive-aged population; that the majority of insurance plans do not provide coverage for infertility treatment; and that “a fundamental part of the human experience is fulfilling the desire to reproduce.”
* The bill defines infertility as “a disease or condition that results in the abnormal function of the reproductive system,” and encompasses not only those of us who can’t conceive within a year, but those who can’t carry a pregnancy to term.
* The bill calls for coverage of up to four IVF retrievals, or, “if a live birth follows a completed oocyte retrieval, then at least 2 more completed oocyte retrievals shall be covered, with a lifetime cap of six retrievals.”
* The bill’s definition of ART includes IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, embryo cryopreservation, egg or embryo donation, and surrogate birth.
RESOLVE has created an online form letter that can be sent to your congressman to support the bill.
Category: Fertility | 1 Comment »