Re: Insurance Companies

Wow- is it a full moon or something? Seriously I'm starting to think something's in the air!!

Can you call your insurance company? I thought that NYS had a state mandated IF coverage also b/c my insurance isn't that great but they've told me that they HAVE to pay for IUIs etc because it's state mandated. Is there any way to check into that?
(On a side note, I won't be apologizing for this post because I put what MY insurance covers b/c you know it's not meant to upset you!)

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by MrsMessina

Wow- is it a full moon or something? Seriously I'm starting to think something's in the air!!

Can you call your insurance company? I thought that NYS had a state mandated IF coverage also b/c my insurance isn't that great but they've told me that they HAVE to pay for IUIs etc because it's state mandated. Is there any way to check into that?
(On a side note, I won't be apologizing for this post because I put what MY insurance covers b/c you know it's not meant to upset you!)

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by -BabyQuestions-

Posted by MrsMessina

Wow- is it a full moon or something? Seriously I'm starting to think something's in the air!!

Can you call your insurance company? I thought that NYS had a state mandated IF coverage also b/c my insurance isn't that great but they've told me that they HAVE to pay for IUIs etc because it's state mandated. Is there any way to check into that?
(On a side note, I won't be apologizing for this post because I put what MY insurance covers b/c you know it's not meant to upset you!)

Oh please!!! No need to apologize for you either!!!

The lady did not mention anything about IUI over the phone but I am sure it's worth a shot to ask. Thank you!

Re: Insurance Companies

lol! welcome
I've learned you have to ask very specific questions when it comes to insurance... I'm still waiting for my book to come that has supposedly all of the coverage info in it but they claim it's still in legal being printed and will be sent to me as soon as it's approved It's their way of not letting you know all that you're covered for, I swear!!!
Good luck!!! If an IUI is covered, the odds are that the meds are covered too b/c I have no IVF coverage but my sonograms, gonal-f, lupron, BCPs, and ovidrel and bloodwork were all covered. I just paid my copays. GL!!!!

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by MrsMessina

lol! welcome
I've learned you have to ask very specific questions when it comes to insurance... I'm still waiting for my book to come that has supposedly all of the coverage info in it but they claim it's still in legal being printed and will be sent to me as soon as it's approved It's their way of not letting you know all that you're covered for, I swear!!!
Good luck!!! If an IUI is covered, the odds are that the meds are covered too b/c I have no IVF coverage but my sonograms, gonal-f, lupron, BCPs, and ovidrel and bloodwork were all covered. I just paid my copays. GL!!!!

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by -BabyQuestions-

DH is going to ask! YEA!!! Thanks!

About these grants do I need a RE to find out about them? Or how can I do it or can I do it on my own? Because we went straight from an OBGYN to a urologist. I had an HSG and bloodwork and I am fine - we are looking at MF.

Thanks sooo much for all of your help ladies. You have truly touched my heart today and made me feel better. I don't know what I would do without this board.

Re: Insurance Companies

awww, it'll be ok If you have MF an IUI might be a good start... b/c w/ an IUI they take DHs sperm and inject it to where your eggs have released to- so they don't have to swim up to get to them- they're put in the same area so there's a better chance of them meeting... I've done 1 already and it didn't work but I'm getting ready to try again in the next few days, assuming that my cylcle doesn't get cancelled since my dr said I'm going to hyperstimulate.
I know at least empire blue cross blue shield you can ask for a book explaining your coverage benefits. What type of medical insurance do you have? FM me if you'd prefer

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by mcl916

Posted by -BabyQuestions-

DH is going to ask! YEA!!! Thanks!

About these grants do I need a RE to find out about them? Or how can I do it or can I do it on my own? Because we went straight from an OBGYN to a urologist. I had an HSG and bloodwork and I am fine - we are looking at MF.

Thanks sooo much for all of your help ladies. You have truly touched my heart today and made me feel better. I don't know what I would do without this board.

You don't need an RE to find out about them, but you have to apply through the RE you choose. You can research the grant on this site : NYS Infertiltiy Demonstration Program And you can also find the participating RE. You won't know how much you will get until after you apply. Call around to the different clinics listed and ask if they have any money left in their fund ( I *think* each place gets X amount a year and it lasts until they use it up). I didn't do this since my RE is not involved, but I did look into it. Several people on here have done it and gotten some decent money towards their cycle (I think it's up to 90% of the cost dependant on your income). Hope this helps

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by MrsMessina

awww, it'll be ok If you have MF an IUI might be a good start... b/c w/ an IUI they take DHs sperm and inject it to where your eggs have released to- so they don't have to swim up to get to them- they're put in the same area so there's a better chance of them meeting... I've done 1 already and it didn't work but I'm getting ready to try again in the next few days, assuming that my cylcle doesn't get cancelled since my dr said I'm going to hyperstimulate.
I know at least empire blue cross blue shield you can ask for a book explaining your coverage benefits. What type of medical insurance do you have? FM me if you'd prefer

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by -BabyQuestions-

Posted by MrsMessina

awww, it'll be ok If you have MF an IUI might be a good start... b/c w/ an IUI they take DHs sperm and inject it to where your eggs have released to- so they don't have to swim up to get to them- they're put in the same area so there's a better chance of them meeting... I've done 1 already and it didn't work but I'm getting ready to try again in the next few days, assuming that my cylcle doesn't get cancelled since my dr said I'm going to hyperstimulate.
I know at least empire blue cross blue shield you can ask for a book explaining your coverage benefits. What type of medical insurance do you have? FM me if you'd prefer

I guess I will see what the dr says would be the best for us to start with. DH apparently has NO sperm so I don't know what he will say.

I will FM you!

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by janie

Posted by Hofstra26

WOW!! They pay for nothing at all??!! That is crazy. Luckily our insurance paid for everything but if we had to have done IVF we would've been capped at $10K/lifetime max. I think it's terrible that the insurance company would pay to terminate pregnancies but not help those people who want to bring a child into this world. That is such a shame.

Not to start any drama....but if someone is clearly distressed over insurance not covering their IF needs...why would you post about how your insurance company does cover and how much and stuff. I dont think thats what the OP wanted to hear. I think its kind of insensitive of you.

I'm not going to go back and forth but I will say that I was not being insensitive at all and I was offended by your post. I was just saying I was fortunate our insurance covered our needs and how terrible it was that hers did not. Clearly she was not offended as there was no intent to be mean or hurtful. I've been posting on the IF board for a long time, it's where I started because of my own IF issues before getting pregnant, and I am ALWAYS sensitive to the girls on the board and their posts and questions. You are making drama since you're the only one who commented and just so the ladies here know........I was also FM'ed by this poster and was told to "stay on the pregnancy board" which I found to be insensitive and rude and uncalled for. I've never had a problem with a single person on any board on LIFamilies before and I'm not about to start nor will I stop posting along with all the other people on this board who helped me to actually get to the pregnancy board. In the future you should think about what you say before typing it because if anyone was out of line or insensitive it surely was not me.

**EDIT** As I Fm'ed you too, just as an aside, I've been around LIFamilies for a long time and I've never had any negative FM or posts from anyone. I think it was a little ridiculous of you as someone who just joined the board and whose ONLY post was what you said above to be telling me to "stay on the pregnancy board". Again, I started on the IF board and am eternally grateful to all the help and advice I've received from everyone here and I would never intentionally be insensitive or say something to hurt any one of them since I was in their shoes at one point. As I said to you in my FM, perhaps it is you who should stay off the boards until you learn to post something of value as opposed to stirring up drama where there wasn't any. Enough said............this is not the forum for this fighting and I don't want to take up time with this when people here have real concerns and problems. I've said what I had to and I'm done.

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by daisy32

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by janie

Posted by Hofstra26

WOW!! They pay for nothing at all??!! That is crazy. Luckily our insurance paid for everything but if we had to have done IVF we would've been capped at $10K/lifetime max. I think it's terrible that the insurance company would pay to terminate pregnancies but not help those people who want to bring a child into this world. That is such a shame.

Not to start any drama....but if someone is clearly distressed over insurance not covering their IF needs...why would you post about how your insurance company does cover and how much and stuff. I dont think thats what the OP wanted to hear. I think its kind of insensitive of you.

I'm not going to go back and forth but I will say that I was not being insensitive at all and I was offended by your post. I was just saying I was fortunate our insurance covered our needs and how terrible it was that hers did not. Clearly she was not offended as there was no intent to be mean or hurtful. I've been posting on the IF board for a long time, it's where I started because of my own IF issues before getting pregnant, and I am ALWAYS sensitive to the girls on the board and their posts and questions. You are making drama since you're the only one who commented and just so the ladies here know........I was also FM'ed by this poster and was told to "stay on the pregnancy board" which I found to be insensitive and rude and uncalled for. I've never had a problem with a single person on any board on LIFamilies before and I'm not about to start nor will I stop posting along with all the other people on this board who helped me to actually get to the pregnancy board. In the future you should think about what you say before typing it because if anyone was out of line or insensitive it surely was not me.

**EDIT** As I Fm'ed you too, just as an aside, I've been around LIFamilies for a long time and I've never had any negative FM or posts from anyone. I think it was a little ridiculous of you as someone who just joined the board and whose ONLY post was what you said above to be telling me to "stay on the pregnancy board". Again, I started on the IF board and am eternally grateful to all the help and advice I've received from everyone here and I would never intentionally be insensitive or say something to hurt any one of them since I was in their shoes at one point. As I said to you in my FM, perhaps it is you who should stay off the boards until you learn to post something of value as opposed to stirring up drama where there wasn't any. Enough said............this is not the forum for this fighting and I don't want to take up time with this when people here have real concerns and problems. I've said what I had to and I'm done.

Good for you Kristen!!!! WTH is wrong with people?!?!? That was very well put!!!! No more drama people!!!

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by janie

Posted by Hofstra26

WOW!! They pay for nothing at all??!! That is crazy. Luckily our insurance paid for everything but if we had to have done IVF we would've been capped at $10K/lifetime max. I think it's terrible that the insurance company would pay to terminate pregnancies but not help those people who want to bring a child into this world. That is such a shame.

Not to start any drama....but if someone is clearly distressed over insurance not covering their IF needs...why would you post about how your insurance company does cover and how much and stuff. I dont think thats what the OP wanted to hear. I think its kind of insensitive of you.

I'm not going to go back and forth but I will say that I was not being insensitive at all and I was offended by your post. I was just saying I was fortunate our insurance covered our needs and how terrible it was that hers did not. Clearly she was not offended as there was no intent to be mean or hurtful. I've been posting on the IF board for a long time, it's where I started because of my own IF issues before getting pregnant, and I am ALWAYS sensitive to the girls on the board and their posts and questions. You are making drama since you're the only one who commented and just so the ladies here know........I was also FM'ed by this poster and was told to "stay on the pregnancy board" which I found to be insensitive and rude and uncalled for. I've never had a problem with a single person on any board on LIFamilies before and I'm not about to start nor will I stop posting along with all the other people on this board who helped me to actually get to the pregnancy board. In the future you should think about what you say before typing it because if anyone was out of line or insensitive it surely was not me.

**EDIT** As I Fm'ed you too, just as an aside, I've been around LIFamilies for a long time and I've never had any negative FM or posts from anyone. I think it was a little ridiculous of you as someone who just joined the board and whose ONLY post was what you said above to be telling me to "stay on the pregnancy board". Again, I started on the IF board and am eternally grateful to all the help and advice I've received from everyone here and I would never intentionally be insensitive or say something to hurt any one of them since I was in their shoes at one point. As I said to you in my FM, perhaps it is you who should stay off the boards until you learn to post something of value as opposed to stirring up drama where there wasn't any. Enough said............this is not the forum for this fighting and I don't want to take up time with this when people here have real concerns and problems. I've said what I had to and I'm done.

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by MrsJoeG

Posted by -BabyQuestions-

Posted by MrsMessina

awww, it'll be ok If you have MF an IUI might be a good start... b/c w/ an IUI they take DHs sperm and inject it to where your eggs have released to- so they don't have to swim up to get to them- they're put in the same area so there's a better chance of them meeting... I've done 1 already and it didn't work but I'm getting ready to try again in the next few days, assuming that my cylcle doesn't get cancelled since my dr said I'm going to hyperstimulate.
I know at least empire blue cross blue shield you can ask for a book explaining your coverage benefits. What type of medical insurance do you have? FM me if you'd prefer

I guess I will see what the dr says would be the best for us to start with. DH apparently has NO sperm so I don't know what he will say.

I will FM you!

I am so sorry you are going through all of this You can call the ins company directly and ask them to look up DH's company and give you the coverage of benefits. I had to do that last week for us. Just make sure you get a person. Even if they are both PPOs for the same ins co the employers choose the coverage they want ot offer so it may be different. I know NJ and MA have mandated IUI and IVF coverage, so sad that NY doesn't NY requires that insurers treat infertility as a condition but does not require them to assist with feriliization. But if your DH has no sperm any and all treament related to that condition should be covered just not IUI or IVF. I paid for 2 IUIs out of pocket and they were about $400 each. Feel free to FM me if you want

Message edited 1/1/2009 12:01:33 PM.

Re: Insurance Companies

I think the insurance companies are using the "experimental" loophole to get out paying for IVF. Yes experimental for 20 YEARS!!!! UGGGG!!!!

The thing with insurance co's is also finding the right person to talk to. 2 Years ago I was at my old company and had some gentic testing done as my OBY knew we were going to TTC. Came up positive for 3 ethnic diseases so OBY wanted DH to get checked. Well he goes to Stony Brook, gets tested (comes up neg for everything thank goodness). Anyway, $3,000 in testing denied. Every time I called up, they gave me a different excuse why they weren't covering him. Including "we don't cover genetic testing". Which clearly they did because they covered mine. After 5 letters and numerous calls, I finally got someone on the phone with a brain. Guess what....they covered all of it 100%.

Same thing with IF coverage. Someone on the phone told me it only covers up the the diagnosis. But, guess what...they covered all 6 of my IUI's and all the meds.

Re: Insurance Companies

It's just awful how the insurance companies don't provide coverage for IF procedures. I actually spent some time writing to my representative and other state officials here in NJ, and just got a standard email back that basically said nothing.

I feel very fortunate that my insurance covers 80% of IVF for me. They also cover 3 lifetime attempts. I'm on #2 now. We have decided though that if this cycle doesn't work, and we are fortunate enough to have some frozen embryos our FET cycle we will pay out of pocket and hold onto that last round of IVF if I have to go through retrieval again, since that's the bigger cost.

Re: Insurance Companies

Posted by janie

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by janie

Posted by Hofstra26

WOW!! They pay for nothing at all??!! That is crazy. Luckily our insurance paid for everything but if we had to have done IVF we would've been capped at $10K/lifetime max. I think it's terrible that the insurance company would pay to terminate pregnancies but not help those people who want to bring a child into this world. That is such a shame.

Not to start any drama....but if someone is clearly distressed over insurance not covering their IF needs...why would you post about how your insurance company does cover and how much and stuff. I dont think thats what the OP wanted to hear. I think its kind of insensitive of you.

I'm not going to go back and forth but I will say that I was not being insensitive at all and I was offended by your post. I was just saying I was fortunate our insurance covered our needs and how terrible it was that hers did not. Clearly she was not offended as there was no intent to be mean or hurtful. I've been posting on the IF board for a long time, it's where I started because of my own IF issues before getting pregnant, and I am ALWAYS sensitive to the girls on the board and their posts and questions. You are making drama since you're the only one who commented and just so the ladies here know........I was also FM'ed by this poster and was told to "stay on the pregnancy board" which I found to be insensitive and rude and uncalled for. I've never had a problem with a single person on any board on LIFamilies before and I'm not about to start nor will I stop posting along with all the other people on this board who helped me to actually get to the pregnancy board. In the future you should think about what you say before typing it because if anyone was out of line or insensitive it surely was not me.

**EDIT** As I Fm'ed you too, just as an aside, I've been around LIFamilies for a long time and I've never had any negative FM or posts from anyone. I think it was a little ridiculous of you as someone who just joined the board and whose ONLY post was what you said above to be telling me to "stay on the pregnancy board". Again, I started on the IF board and am eternally grateful to all the help and advice I've received from everyone here and I would never intentionally be insensitive or say something to hurt any one of them since I was in their shoes at one point. As I said to you in my FM, perhaps it is you who should stay off the boards until you learn to post something of value as opposed to stirring up drama where there wasn't any. Enough said............this is not the forum for this fighting and I don't want to take up time with this when people here have real concerns and problems. I've said what I had to and I'm done.

I have to admit your absolutely right and I'm sorry i offended you. I was way out of line and this was completely unlike me. i can honestly say that was nothing but jealousy and envy talking. This whole IF journey is getting so difficult and I just unloaded my frustration out on you which was not right. Again I apologize sincerely and I wish you the best of luck with your pregnancy.

Re: Insurance Companies