Wednesday, September 29, 2010

How about that state mandated infertility coverage! Or not...

We've been lucky throughout this whole shitty process to live in a state where insurance coverage is mandated.

Except when it's not.

When I took a leave from my job, III changed his insurance to a family plan so that I would be covered under it. I always knew I liked my insurance better than III's. There were far fewer co-payments and procedure fees, though my choice of doctors was slightly more limited. But it didn't seem to make sense to pay through CO.BRA to keep mine, especially since we're not 100% sure I'm going back to school. (Since we might move.)

Now it seems it might have actually been CHEAPER to stay on my own insurance, even if I had to pay the whole damn thing. Today I called the insurance company, only to be told that they cover 85% after we meet our deductible, except for ART like IVF, IUI, and ICSI.

For real???? Then what's the fucking point?

I was skeptical, though, because I know that we do live in a state where the coverage is mandated, so I called our clinic.

No dice. Because our insurance is through a federal company instead of a state company, we get no coverage.

I want to throw up. I'm so pissed at everyone right now. If I'm going to be 100% honest, I'm even pissed at III, because if he had just fucking called his insurance company this is likely info he could have gotten through them. Then I could have crunched the numbers to see if it made more sense to keep my insurance while on leave and pay for 100% of it then to switch to his, which has no IVF coverage. The PGD alone on our last cycle was $5200!!!! FUUUUUUUCK.

I really, really, really hate my life. I don't understand why NOTHING CAN BE FUCKING EASY for us!!!! NOTHING. I want to crawl into my bed, curl up in a ball, and never, ever, ever come out again.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

7 comments:

S said...

I'm sorry. That must have been so awful to find out.

Sadly, you are far from alone in having no insurance coverage for fertility treatment. Should we go on past IUIs, we will be paying 100% out of pocket, and even for IUIs, insurance only paid a portion (and zero for Follistim, the most expensive med!).

It sucks.

Heather said...

Welcome to my world. It really really sucks that insurance companies don't feel infertility is a disease. We spent $24k last year alone for two CHANCES to have a baby. (And we don't have one.) My insurance company will pay for viagra though. ARGH!

Don't you have 60 days or so to elect COBRA? Has it been that long? Maybe you could still switch to it.

I can completely relate to how you are feeling. It just sucks.

Haidee said...

I'm so sorry, that just sucks big time :-( Unfortunately this is quite common and in NZ where I live NO insurance companies will cover any infertility related treatments. We get govt funding for 2 cycles of IVF but only if we reach a certain threshold of points (takes 5 years to get if you are unexplained!) A cycle here costs $12,000-$15,000. TOTALLY GET HOW YOU FEEL!!

Kakunaa said...

It is absolute crap what insurance companies don't do. We were lucky, and still ended up pying a shit-ton OOP. I am soooo sorry. Can you go back to the COBRA?

Anonymous said...

Oh, that really sucks! Can you get back on the COBRA?

Keya said...

IF sucks, insurance companies suck, healthcare coverage sucks and OMG the costs of the procedures suck!!
I am sorry you are having such a hard time with money issues. I have always been terrified of insurance companies...I continue to be.

Anonymous said...

You can still get on COBRA--check with your HR office.