paying for infertility treatment with public monies, yes or no?

[MonstHer]

Should people (in any country) be entitled to any free infertility treatment paid for by the government?

People in the the UK and other countries, does the NHS (and other public healthcare) currently pay for any part of the testing or treatment aspect of infertility, or do citizens have to go private?

People in the US, do you think people under Medicaid/Medicare have a right to fertility treatments and testing?

 

[MonstHer]

This topic came up for me because I was reading an OB/GYN blog and the doctor was talking about this subject. He doesn't think it should be free. He was asked by several Medicare/Medicaid insured customers to be prescribed Clomid.

 

[tina3747]

Yes! I think you should be entitled to at least one free go with public money. I support it whole heartedly. Being infertile or having unexplained fertility problems should be classed as any other illness/health problem IMO.
I do believe they need a little shake up of it though, I have a few customers with infertility and the nhs ivf/icsi didn't work for them as I think they go in with basic, one for all procedures rather than looking into varying the drugs they're given. I've had 3 people tell me this, all went to the same hospital, experienced the same problems in the blastocysts dying (I think) as the hormones were too high they were given. All 3 went to the dame clinic after the free gos in notts and all three got pregnant on first attempt resulting in 3 gorgeous babies!! Miracle man in my eyes and he said to all three I promise I'll get you pregnant!!
So a defo yes to one free treatment but a tweak in the procedures. Also ladies with no children but gain step children through relasionships. They should be entitled!

 

[tina3747]

Also sorry to add, the nhs will fund one treatment, used to be 3 but suppose that was too expensive so changed to one. I believe ( correct me if I'm wrong) if you have a step child with another partner and you have no child yourself your not entitled??

 

[vaniilla]

I think it should be available to everyone who doesn't have any biological children of their own, I also think it should still be 3 goes because on average thats how long it takes to fall pregnant on it, infertility is a medical problem and as such it should be available to anyone that has that problem, we all pay taxes into the NHS so its not free so to speak, yes for subsequent children it would too expensive but everyone should have the chance to be a parent if they wanted one.

 

[MonstHer]

What if the person is also on welfare or benefits?
not sure if what it is called in the UK.
So in other words, if they are not contributing to the NHS.

 

[MonstHer]

In the the US atleast, guardians do get monies if they are taking care of someone else's child. (if they qualify)
Not sure about the step-parent thing.

 

[Mindy_mini]

. I believe ( correct me if I'm wrong) if you have a step child with another partner and you have no child yourself your not entitled??

That is correct. A friends husband ha a child from a previous relationship and despite the fact that all their problems were related to her - she had endo, pcos and fluctuating hormone levels they weren't entitled.

To the opening poster I don't know how I feel about it. I have some quite extreme views which are personal to me and I accept these are MY views and that they may not be correct so in theinterest of peace on the board I will them to myself. Whilst at the same time of having these views, I'm watching a dear friend go through infertility and it breaks my heart to watch them knowing they would make duh amazing parents but also know if they don't get treatment on the NHS they won't be able to afford it themselves. So I'm kinda between the two.

 

[Andypanda6570]

I think one or 2 free treatments should be given . You can't say cause someone is on welfare they are not entitled to it. I just don't think that is fair to alienate a certain group HOWEVER I do see the point if someone says well people on welfare can barely afford to support themselves let alone a baby.
I think it is called a catch 22 damned if you do damned if you don't, I guess I am just split there in the middle. I don't know what I think really, I just do feel very strongly about not alienating any group.
I know not much of an opinion I have here.. Sorry

 

[vaniilla]

I think it would have to be on an individual basis, I think welfare patients to be taken into consideration based on how Dependant they are on benefits, for example if they need it to top up their earning and can show they can afford the basics I think they should get help as well, with everyone else on welfare I think it would need to be a case of waiting until they are financially ready.

 

[tu123]

Yes. If they dont have other biological children. And three attempts. I used to work with a fertility specialist. He said two to three was average for the average couple.

Some people want it even when they have kids already. I dont agree with that.

 

[deafgal]

if it a medical issue, A person can't help that their body can't conceive naturally like everyone else. I think people are being cruel to tell them they have to pay while everyone else get make babies free naturally. they should least have one or two child with help.

if it have to do with birth control, I dunno.
.If it have to do with natural aging, (as everyone go through this) I dunno either. I just like to give those who have trouble conceiving at all a boost to increase their chance to conceive. but only with limits as our population is high as it is.

I also think they should get finanical help to adopt children

 

[deafgal]

What if the person is also on welfare or benefits?
not sure if what it is called in the UK.
So in other words, if they are not contributing to the NHS.

people on welfare usually means they have kids.

 

[deafgal]

I think it would have to be on an individual basis, I think welfare patients to be taken into consideration based on how Dependant they are on benefits, for example if they need it to top up their earning and can show they can afford the basics I think they should get help as well, with everyone else on welfare I think it would need to be a case of waiting until they are financially ready.

I don't think it matters how poor they are as long they take responsibilty and love them. Even if they need finanical help.If they need help due to medical condition that made them inferile, they should get it but as with all women, only with limits as the population is high as it is.

Some part of the U.S. and elsewhere believed the poor should be sterilized. there're many documents on this.

 

[MonstHer]

What if the person is also on welfare or benefits?
not sure if what it is called in the UK.
So in other words, if they are not contributing to the NHS.

people on welfare usually means they have kids.

Right, in some cases. Some people on welfare want secondary infertility treatment though.

Also, one must consider people who get disability payments. They are also covered by government healthcare and may want infertility treatments.

 

[deafgal]

What if the person is also on welfare or benefits?
not sure if what it is called in the UK.
So in other words, if they are not contributing to the NHS.

people on welfare usually means they have kids.

Right, in some cases. Some people on welfare want secondary infertility treatment though.

Also, one must consider people who get disability payments. They are also covered by government healthcare and may want infertility treatments.

in that case, I have no problem as long as they don't go overboard. if they want more than two, then thats when I think they should pay for it themselves. you usually can't get on any gov't assisted program unless you have kids or have a disability (physical, mental, learning) . Most poor people have jobs (probably have insurance unless it is a very small business) here, either that or homeless. Other than unemployments, I don't know they have access to healthcare unless that changed because of obamacare.

 

[MonstHer]

My own opinion is this:

Definitely not. Atleast as far as the US goes. I don't have experience with a national health program, so I can't comment there
Welfare is already way too much as it is, and coupled with some recipients trying to have even more children, the costs would be outrageous. Besides, welfare is not enough to live well in my opinion. I really don't think it is fair to the children.
I do think it's quite unfair that even a lot of private insurance doesn't cover it.

 

[deafgal]

I just look at this way, they would have couple more kids naturally, if they were not infertile. I am not going to punish them with no kids due to money when everyone else have five or more kids on welfare and even get their preplanning for pregnancy and hospital stay paid for when hard working citizens have to pay(I think that will change as a new bill passed that insurance have to cover 100% women and family planning healthcare) .

 

[JASMAK]

Definitely. If the gov't will pay for breast reduction, and non-livesaving surgeries etc...not saying that they shouldn't, but it just doesn't make sense that they wouldn't treat the infertility too. It's a medical issue. My husband had only 3% normal sperm...not even enough to do an IUI. Fertility treatments were NOT covered for us. Also, health care should NEVER go by income...that is a recipe for disaster!

 

[Lightworker]

This might sound harsh, but I think IVF should only be free for people with actual medical reasons that make falling pregnant naturally an impossibility.

I don't think it should be free for those that..

- decided to postpone having children, and their fertility is now in decline
- fertility affected by hormonal contraception (the NHS should stop shoving hormones into people, and then paying out to remedy the problems..it makes no financial sense)

The reason for this is that there are, to me, better ways of spending the money. Having said that, I feel my opinion is marred by the fact that I have not experienced infertility or complications and it is easy enough for someone like me to have strong opinions against it, but perhaps if I was in a different position, I'd change..x