Insurance Coverage for Infertility

Today I would like to vent about many insurances not covering infertility treatment. At last year's open season we actually decided to change our health insurance because we wanted one that would cover as much infertility treatment as possible. We picked one that covers 2 IVFs per lifetime with a $6.000 deductible. Well, we maxed that out this year. I was very pleasantly surprised that there is another open season this year, so we will be able to get out of this insurance without having to pay another $6.000 deductible next year. So we will. Any ideas on great health insurances (that cover tons of IUIs, IVFs, etc.)?

I also don't understand why the health insurance infertility coverage is in the responsibility of the state you live in. I guess, we picked the wrong state when we moved here, then.

I feel like my infertility is a handicap. Because my body denies me of the ability to have biological children. Why don't I have the same right to children like anybody else that doesn't have problems conceiving? Doesn't this discriminate me and all my fellow infertiles?

Most cost estimates for insurance coverage for infertility treatment range from an additional $1 to $3 per member per month. I mean, we are also all paying for the people that destroy their body with smoking or abuse alcohol or drugs. I have never been a smoker, I don't do drugs, I only have a drink maybe once every two weeks. And I get punished because I have a medical condition that isn't recognized as worthy of being covered? Why is smoking, drug abuse and alcoholism worthy then?

In June of 2007 the H.R. 2892: Family Building Act of 2007 has been introduced to Congress. I just did some research. The act has only 8 Co-Sponsors (very sad if you look at the size of Congress). The current status is:

06/27/2007: Referred to House Armed Services
06/27/2007: Referred to House Education and Labor
06/27/2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
06/27/2007: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
06/27/2007: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
09/11/2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Committee/Subcommittee Activity:
Energy and Commerce: Referral, In Committee
Armed Services: Referral, In Committee
Health: Referral

Let's hope they move that Act along very quick!!! Maybe you can write to your Congress(wo)man and ask them to support the Act (and have all your family and friends do the same). On the Resolve Homepage you can find out whether your state provides infertility coverage. Most of my infertile fellows know all of this information anyway. But there is also a possibility to write to your State Representatives and mandate they support coverage.

And we will go ahead and change our health insurance - again.