Just another ltttc rant and ramble....

[Mommyagain]

My insurance company really pisses me off!! The fact that in 2012 I payed out almost $20,000 to try to have a baby seems crazy!! My insurance says that these procedures are medically unneccesary...ummm....not to me. I feel discriminated against in a lot of aspects when it comes to my ttc journey. In my personal life I have a very small group that has totally supported me. It is strange because my ltttc has revealed some things to me. In particular I have become pretty close with a few women who I have been around for years but didn't really "hang" with...but because of their unwavering support we have become close. On the other hand I have one relationship in particular that seems to have suffered. Mainly because when I had my last chemical pregnancny after going through IVF they didn't bother to check on me or act like they cared. It was very hard on me just doesn't do justice to how I felt. I don't know...just needed to rant a little. This seems so surreal. I never thought this would be a path I would be taking in my life. I am currently in the process of doing an FET cycle and if all goes as planned will be transferring two of my frosty babies two weeks from tomorrow. I have been feeling really positive but I am a little scared. This will be the last time we can try for a while because after we pay out this time all our saved up "baby" money will be gone. So please keep your fingers crossed and if you feel to send a little prayer my way.

 

[Miss_Awesome]

Hey there! I know what you mean about being annoyed with insurance. Well, not completely because we haven't reached the steps to do IVF yet, but we've looked into it and all infertility procedures are considered "elective" with ours. I'm sorry, but when the EFF did trying to have a baby because your body (or DH's) has a few issues putting up roadblocks become "elective?!"

I was on another forum recently where a woman posted a link to a petition for infertility diagnostics needing to be covered. I was appalled to see several other women tell her it shouldn't be covered and that it's elective. One C-word said, "If we allow infertile people to get procedures like IVF, what's next? Transgender reassignments?!" I have never wanted to choke someone so badly, but it made me mad. They all flocked to the infertility/TTC forum to bash on this poor woman who just wanted other infertile ladies to know *something* is trying to get through for coverage.

Sorry, I'm rambling! Anyways, I hate that some insurance companies will pay for things that might actually be elective like gastric bypass, tummy tucks, lipo, etc., but when it comes to family building, we're lumped in there. It's awful.

 

[Mommyagain]

That is awful that they were bashing her...and uncalled for. If they didn't like it then move on and don't sign the petition. Geez people. I feel like certain things are covered that the person causes whereas my infertility problems are from nothing I have done. I think some of my problems are passed down from my Mom's side of the family although they in general have had PCOS and endometriosis but haven't suffered infertility. I wouldn't even expect them to pay every stinkin dime but some help would be nice. And I can see the need for reasonable guidelines being met. I just think the whole thing is crazy. I can well afford to raise a child but can barely afford to actually get pregnant.

 

[popchick75]

I think there are a few states where it is mandatory for insurance to cover IVF....unfortunately I don't live in one of them either! I know Illinois is one.
I've been pretty lucky that my insurance will pay for the diagnosis of trying to find out what is causing the infertility, but not for the treatment of the problem. It doesn't help too much in my case tho since I'm considered 'unexplained.'

 

[Miss_Awesome]

That is awful that they were bashing her...and uncalled for. If they didn't like it then move on and don't sign the petition. Geez people. I feel like certain things are covered that the person causes whereas my infertility problems are from nothing I have done. I think some of my problems are passed down from my Mom's side of the family although they in general have had PCOS and endometriosis but haven't suffered infertility. I wouldn't even expect them to pay every stinkin dime but some help would be nice. And I can see the need for reasonable guidelines being met. I just think the whole thing is crazy. I can well afford to raise a child but can barely afford to actually get pregnant.

Oh, it got my blood boiling to see all those women (there were at least five) go on and on about how dare any infertile woman feel she's entitled to diagnostic or IVF coverage. Myself and another woman (she had done several rounds of IVF) came to her defense and reminded them which board it had been posted on and if they couldn't just read and ignore or reply and support, they needed to scoot.

I read somewhere today that for one person, they'd read their insurance would cover Viagra for erectile dysfunction, but would not cover Clomid for infertility. Seems a little ass-backwards to me!

Eventually, the insurance people will catch on that this is not elective. If it is, than they should also consider maternity coverage "elective." No one told those on drugs, homeless, or just trying to get a yearly tax write-off to go and procreate, that was their choice. So, we should be given the choice to make our families as well! Many of us are paying into the insurance and only really need it for infertility treatments (knocking on wood of course that we don't fall sick with something else). Ugh!

 

[Mommyagain]

I think that was pretty well said.

My insurance did cover my laparoscopic (hope I spelled that right) because my doc put it under necessary because of pelvic pain...which was true. Hey at least I saved a couple thousand on that. But I was pretty angry they wouldn't even cover progesterone when it was needed for my pregnancy....I paid out of pocket for it....my levels were low and I lost the pregnancy.

 

[L4hope]

I too unfortunately live in a crappy state that doesn't provide coverage for IVF treatments. Yet I'm surrounded by stares that do, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts. So cruel!! All total I think there's 15-18 states that mandate insurance companies to provide coverage. What we need is to get our state representatives on our side to get a bill passed mandating it in our states. To think that abortion is covered and assisted conception is not simply blows my mind!!

 

[we can't wait]

I've been pretty lucky that my insurance will pay for the diagnosis of trying to find out what is causing the infertility, but not for the treatment of the problem.

^ Same with my insurance. It is paying 80% of all my tests to diagnose a problem, but any procedures are out of pocket. Is it bad that I am *slightly* hoping that they find a solid diagnosis that is medically neccessary to fix.

 

[Miss_Awesome]

I've been pretty lucky that my insurance will pay for the diagnosis of trying to find out what is causing the infertility, but not for the treatment of the problem.

^ Same with my insurance. It is paying 80% of all my tests to diagnose a problem, but any procedures are out of pocket. Is it bad that I am *slightly* hoping that they find a solid diagnosis that is medically neccessary to fix.

Same as you ladies! My insurance will cover the diagnostics (most, anyhow) as long as it's coded a certain way. If we went to an RE for ANYTHING, it's not covered. If my husband's normal doctor or a urologist ordered a semen analysis, it's covered. Same test ordered by an RE, not so much. I had an ultrasound to diagnose ovarian cysts last year due to pain, but as long as it was ordered by a nurse practitioner (who wasn't worth her salt, BTW), it was covered. Outrageous. I feel like we have to be sneaky, lol

 

[tamithomas]

Anti IVF people make me so mad! If you don't like them simple don't get one but don't make everyone else suffer just because of your moral or religious views. They're usually the ones with a bus load of kids in their homes that they conceived with no problem. Infertility is a real problem and just like any other medical issue it should be allowed to be fixed.

It's usually the same politicians that refuse to let fertility treatments be covered by insurance are the same ones who ban a dog breed but have never been in the same room as that particular dog.

Don't like it? don't be around it or get one

 

[popchick75]

I wouldn't say that I am overly religious, but I do consider myself spiritual. I don't understand the religious objection....they seem to think that IVF is wrong because God isn't involved in the creation of the embryo. They are completely missing the point! God works *through* people! These doctors and scientists have been blessed with the skills and knowledge to help people create their families and I have no idea how you can object to that!

 

[L4hope]

Well said popchick!!

 

[tamithomas]

Well said Popchick, I wasn't trying to throw all religious people under the bus just the ones that use it as an excuse to be against IVF. I mean, by logic either way God creates the embryo weather it's in the womb or in a lab he still by definition creates it. If they follow their own ways of thinking that God creates everything wouldn't the embryo and the medical advancement to do IVF count? Or at least that's how I see it.

 

[Chris_25]

Well said Popchick, I wasn't trying to throw all religious people under the bus just the ones that use it as an excuse to be against IVF. I mean, by logic either way God creates the embryo weather it's in the womb or in a lab he still by definition creates it. If they follow their own ways of thinking that God creates everything wouldn't the embryo and the medical advancement to do IVF count? Or at least that's how I see it.

I totally agree with you!
I keep saying I want to start a petition to allow insurance companies to cover fertility treatments. It really should be mandatory and not everyone is capable of popping out 15 kids on their own just by saying the word.

 

[Mommyagain]

That is how I see IVF as well. God helps create the embryos no matter where they are made and he also has say so on whether they make it or not once they are inside of me. And if you have a problem with it then you don't have to do it. That is part of the reason I am not as open with those around me about our ttc struggles...I don't want to deal with the negativity of some people on the subject. I also find a lot of people who have such a problem with it are the ones without any problems. For me it is a medical issue and if I had any other problems I would get them fixed so what makes this different. I plan on telling my child (if one results from these treatments) about how they were conceived. That Mommy and Daddy wanted you so much we were willing to go through this and sacrifice to be able to do it.

 

[popchick75]

I usually don't share our LTTTC journey with anyone unless I know that they have gone through infertility issues also. I have so many good friends who would be fine with me opening up to then, but it seems like even though they are so supportive, they just don't know what to say. If the tables were turned, I don't know that i would know what to say either....it's such a personal experience.

It always bother me when people try to dictate laws/rules based on what they think God would approve of. If God is truly all knowing and all seeing, he's got this. He doesn't need anyone's help to dictate the behavior of others. To do so assumes that God can't handle things, which doesn't show much faith.