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

Show Your Support for HR 2892 The Family Building Act

by Gabrielle on May 31st, 2008

There she goes again, talking about the need for insurance coverage for fertility treatments. What a broken record.

Yes, you’re right. It is a topic I cover often here - this crazy notion that your reproductive health is just as important as other (covered) aspects of your health and well-being.

But, I do find great comfort in the fact that I am not alone. The vast majority of you who took this poll agreed with me. RESOLVE, the national infertility association has an entire advocacy network set up in support of it.

This week some ladies have created an online petition to send to Congress in support of HR 2892, The Family Building Act. Go have a look. You’ll notice that once you sign your name, it will take you to a page where you can make a donation to iPetitions, the online vehicle which powers the petition. You do NOT need to make a donation in order for your name to be added.

I reviewed this federal legislation way back when I first started Fertility Notes:

The Family Building Act of 2007 would require coverage for the treatment of infertility in group health plans. HR 2892 states:

(1) Infertility is a disease affecting more than 6,000,000 American women and men, about 10 percent of the reproductive age population.

(2) Recent improvements in therapy make pregnancy possible for more couples than in past years.

(3) The majority of group health plans do not provide coverage for infertility therapy.

(4) A fundamental part of the human experience is fulfilling the desire to reproduce.

Hard to disagree with any of that, but I was shocked at the numbers. Six million?

I read through the bill in search of the catch or the devil hiding in its detail and darned if I could find one. Other than restricting the number of oocyte retrievals and requiring that the treatment is deemed “non-experimental,” the bill is incredibly clear and inclusive.

Which is why I am doubtful that it will pass without some serious grassroots (that’s you and me) advocacy.

And I still feel that way. If you have a minute this weekend, because, really, that’s all it takes, please consider adding your name to the Infertility Has Been Forgotten Petition. If not you, then who?

Hey, you have entered the latest Freebie Friday giveaway, right?

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POSTED IN: IVF, advocacy, feminism, fertility boosts?, finances, infertility treatments, insurance, legislation, medical procedures