Anyone With Tri-Care doing IVF?

[ReadyWithLove]

Hi. Were starting to think our next step is IVF. Does anyone have experience with Tri-Care and IVF? I understand they don't pay for it however there are IVF treatment centers and I think if you pay for it on your own some things are covered. I already know that diagnostic testing is covered etc as we've already begun that process. Were just trying to get an idea of what's ahead of us. Thank you so much.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

Hi. Were starting to think our next step is IVF. Does anyone have experience with Tri-Care and IVF? I understand they don't pay for it however there are IVF treatment centers and I think if you pay for it on your own some things are covered. I already know that diagnostic testing is covered etc as we've already begun that process. Were just trying to get an idea of what's ahead of us. Thank you so much.

Tricare will not cover any part of IVF or IUI. They will reject paying for even the monitoring ultrasounds and followup appointments. They will cover fertility treatments if its a timed intercourse cycle only. In that case they cover everything, ultrasounds, meds, office visits...There are some MTF's that have their own IVF programs, such as Walter Reed and Trippler. In those cases you are provided IVF/IUI services at a very reduced rate. But none of it is covered by Tricare then either. I am in a current timed intercourse cycle with Tricare. Hope this info helps!

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Thank you for your reply. What's a timed intercourse cycle? How long from the beginning of the process did they then begin the IVF? In other words was the waiting list long? Is it required that you have tri-care prime?

 

[CoastiesGirl]

Thank you for your reply. What's a timed intercourse cycle? How long from the beginning of the process did they then begin the IVF? In other words was the waiting list long? Is it required that you have tri-care prime?

A timed intercourse cycle is where they induce ovulation with Gonadatropin injections like Follistim or Gonal-F, then when your follicles are mature enough they tell you to take an HCG trigger shot to get the eggs to release and tell you to have sex the following day within 24-40 hours after trigger.

I dont know what the current waiting lists are as of right now. Last I knew, Walter Reeds was about 1 year as was Trippler. Madigan also has an IVF program and their wait list was 6 months. This was about 6 months ago or so. I wouldnt think Tricare Prime is required sense they dont even bill Tricare for the services at all. You have to pay out of pocket for the IVF treatments even at the MTF's. Its just cheaper there.

 

[ReadyWithLove]

So are you going through the MTF's? If not what is the route you have chosen and how much does it cost? Or can I do the timed intercourse with a tri-care standard provider?

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Oh, stupid me. I just realized something. That timed intercourse process won't work if my tubes are blocked...duh. Ugh, btw that's most likely my problem...blocked tubes. I had a tubal reversal and we've been TTC for 4 months now with every temp, cm checking, pee-sicking you can do without success. I'm having a feeling that I have blocked tubes. My hsg will be in May and I'm trying to get an idea of what I'm in for when it comes to IVF. If they only cover the timed intercourse method I may have a problem. Oh and I'm in the San Diego area so I will have to go to the Navy Medical related facility or something like that. I called them today and left a message.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

We are in Northern California and I see a doctor off base. In Davis. I know Balboa use to have an IVF program but I believe they stopped accepting people.

You HSG will tell you if you have blocked tubes or not. If things are clear there is no reason why you cant try a timed intercourse cycle. Thats where I would start sense Tricare will pay for all the treatments if you do that.

I havent done IVF. I have done timed intercourse and IUI. But we thought we might have to do IVF at point so I looked into it a lot.
Good Luck!

 

[ReadyWithLove]

I'm from northern california. I miss it so much. I can't wait to go back home.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

I am from Seattle. I hate it here in California and I cant wait to get back to Washington! I miss it!

 

[ReadyWithLove]

I miss all of my liberal, tree hugging, cultured people. Although I've been to Seattle and can see why you miss it there. That is probably the most beautiful city I've ever been to. Anyway I called the IVF military facility here. I need to switch to Prime. So I'm going to go on thursday to my FS and see what happens. Then I'm going to have my hsg done in May. If all of those results turn out bad then I'll switch to prime. Switching sounds like an utter nightmare to me. I'm such a snob about doctors and medical care. Thank you for all of your help though. I'm so sad by this whole process.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

Switching actually isnt bad... At least you wont be charged as much out of pocket for medical care in any area any more. You have to pay a certain percentage out of pocket for your medical bills with standard right?

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Yea I pay 20% of any bill. That's based on the allowed amount though not the doctors billed amount. I hope that's understandable. Anyway it ends up costing us maybe $100 at most and that's if I go to the doctors a lot during the month. So for an annual exam I think I paid $20. I also recently had hundreds and hundreds of dollars of blood work done and in total I've paid a little under $100. It's never really that bad and I get to pick the specialists I want. I never need a referal and I usually get seen quickly. Almost all doctors accept tri-care standard because they pay so well. I'm upset they don't cover chiropractors and acupuncture though.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

I have never seen a bill from ANY visit, lab work or specialist referral. As long as I use someone in the Tricare network. I had my son in 09 via c-section and paid nothing...Not even a dollar. The referral process is a pain at times. But its worth it in the long run.

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Being in Northern California don't you live far from a base though? That usually gives you more freedom in terms of providers. I on the other hand live minutes from a base...blah. I'm too impatient to wait for things, then again I'm only going off what I read and not actual experience in terms of Prime.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

We are Coast Guard so we always live far from a base! LOL Closest MTF for me is Travis AFB in Fairfield. About an hour and 15 minutes away!

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Yeah so you have more freedom with doctors. Because I live minutes from the base I would be required to go to the on-base hospital for care. Meaning I wouldn't see the same doctor, if I even got to see a doctor in the first place, and I would have long wait times. It's set up more like Kaiser. Because you are away from a facility you are given special circumstances and a wider range of care to choose from. Yes you have to have a Primary Care doctor but I'm sure you can see them fairly easily and get refferals at a moments notice. I fear that not to be the case at the on base hospitals. My dh says to stay far far away from them and we will keep paying the 20%.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

Yeah I fear the day I have to go to an MTF for treatment. I use to do Civilan contract nursing for Naval Hospital in Bremerton, WA....I would not want to be there as a patient thats for sure. We would never be able to afford the 20% costs with all the medical expenses I have...So Standard isnt an option for us.

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Are you an RN? I'm a CNA and a Cert Medical Admin. I'm not working though. I'm working on my degree in psychology and art history instead.

 

[CoastiesGirl]

Yeah. Not currently working in this state. I am license in WA.

 

[ReadyWithLove]

Oh that's exciting. Sorry I don't have a facebook or anything like that. I'm really curious to know how you do this month after the timed fertility treatments. Have you been feeling overly hormonal/ a lot of side effects?