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Fertility Notes- a fertility blog with all the news your womb can use

Is Your Health Insurance Supposed to Cover Fertility?

by Gabrielle on January 28th, 2008

If you live in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island or Texas – that answer is yes, at least some of it, as least some types of treatments.

If you live in Virginia or Pennsylvania, there is legislation proposed that would mandate some form of infertility coverage. Did you know that?

RESOLVE sent the following action alert to Virginia members this week:

Infertility Insurance Coverage for Virginia residents: Take Action Now!

Senator Patsy Ticer (D-30) introduced Virginia Senate Bill 631 on January 9, 2008. This legislation would require health insurers, health maintenance organizations, and corporations providing accident and sickness subscription contracts to provide coverage for the treatment of infertility.

Testimony for this bill will be heard before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Monday, January 28, 2008. We need your voice! Please call and email the committee members and ask them to support SB631. If you are a constituent of one of the committee members, it is especially important that you make sure that he or she knows.

Click here to access RESOLVE’s online Advocacy Alert system and send a letter to the Senators listed below immediately!

I came across this piece of Pennsylvania legislation earlier this week:

HB 1829 was introduced by Representative Shapiro in the fall. It is currently in the Insurance Committee awaiting consideration. The legislation would amend Pennsylvania’s Insurance Company Law of 1921 to mandate coverage of infertility treatments:

including, but not limited to, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, artificial insemination, gamete intrafallopian tube transfer, zygote intrafallopian tube transfer and low tubal ovum transfer.

If you live any place else, your voice will need to be heard by your legislators before anything moves forward. RESOLVE has sample letters and emails you can use to alert your legislator.

Don’t get angry, get active.

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POSTED IN: FYI, IVF, advocacy, feminism, finances, infertility treatments, legislation

4 opinions for Is Your Health Insurance Supposed to Cover Fertility?

  • Kristen King
    Jan 31, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    I was just talking with a friend last night about how insurance covers Viagra and elective abortion, but oftentimes not regular birth control. If they’ll shell out the bucks for elective abortion and erectile dysfunction drugs, why not fertility treatments? It makes no sense.

    Kristen

  • Gabrielle
    Feb 1, 2008 at 11:52 am

    Absolutely agreed. Thanks for commenting, Kristen.

  • meika
    Feb 21, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    It hurts when you know you are with the right person and all both of you wonted for the last past four1/2 years is to have a baby. aND YOU RN INTO A PROBLEM THAT ONLY Fertility can help but you just cant afford the money up front and you keep running into brick walls because you have tryed so many diffrent things and so many diffrent types of insurance and none of the help.i AM 27 YEARS OLD AND AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME WILL THERE EVER BE HELP OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME?

  • johanna
    Jul 22, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    It sucks most of the companys will cover infertility but they dont tell you that the treatment is not included. I was going to sign up for an insurance that covers infertility I was happy but something in me said wait a minute no insurance covers this. I call the company and ask them if it covers treatment. They said no it only helps you like if I need blood work and to see the GYN but not FERTILITY TREATMENTS. TREATMENTS SHE SAID I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. UNBELIEBLE BUT OBESITY IS COVER AND OTHER THINGS THAT DONT MAKE NO SENCE. I am a 26 year old and I have been trying for the longest. But only GOD know. When is going to be that day for all us Women trying to have kids.

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