Insurance question about "lifetime" IF coverage

I havent been able to get an answer to this question, so thought some of you ladies might know.

What exactly does a "Lifetime" insurance maximum mean? My insurance will cover up to a certain amount, lifetime. What if I get a new job or change insurance companies? Does it start over again with a new maximum, or does it become like a "pre-existing condition" that will carry over to the next insurance company?

Re: Insurance question about "lifetime" IF coverage

The lifetime max is the maximum $$ amount the insurance company will pay for infertility treatments lifetime
I actually just went through something very similar to what you're asking although I did not change jobs....the insurance changed. I had Aetna last year which entitled me to $20k lifetime max of IF coverage. On 1/1/09 our insurance changed to Empire Blue Cross/ Blue Shield which also gives me a $20k lifetime max. I called Empire BC/BS and asked them if the previous infertility max I used from 2008 would carry over to their policy and they said no. So even though I used around $3500 of my lifetime max with Aetna last year.....that has no bearing on my Empire BC/BS coverage. So in other words come 1/1/09 I used $0 of my lifetime max with the new insurance.....which made me very happy
Hope that makes sense

Re: Insurance question about "lifetime" IF coverage

It means even if you switch jobs and you are offered the same insurance( company) but used up your amount, you will not be eligible for anymore fertility benefits..
But if it's a new insurance, then you would start all over with the IF benefits

Re: Insurance question about "lifetime" IF coverage

I have a 50K lifetime max with Empire. If I change jobs and no longer have Empire, that no longer applies and I have to go with whatever the new insurance benefits are. If I change jobs and still have Empire I continue with that coverage but the 50K doesn't reset.