Well I got it . . .

... the email from my clinic telling me that I am not covered for IF. This after they assured at my second visit me that I was.

Anyway considering what we are looking at down the line (another IVF, possibly donor egg, who knows what else...) I have sent an email to DH suggesting he get a new job. He works at NY&Co., a large company, but with really awful insurance.

Or should I give up my own company and get a job somewhere else? He doesn't like his job so much...and I worked really hard to start my own biz.

Can you tell me if your company's insurance covers IF treatment, even a little bit? He doesn't believe that many employers have better health benefits than his.


Thanks ladies and please stop me from killing someone..

Re: Well I got it . . .

I'm sorry Kara.

My insurance will cover 60% of my IUI costs and 60% of my IVF costs, but only for a max of 3 IUI cycles and one IVF per year.

Which in hearing what everyone else has is pretty good. I have Cigna and the open access plan.

But, we also figured out that we've spent almost $6k this year OOP.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Kara...I'm sorry.

At my last job...my insurance didn't cover IVF at all....and I live in NJ where it was state mandated. Basically, the company had a self-insured policy, where they got to pick and choose what they wanted to be covered...and that's how they got around state mandates. This was Aetna (and I am still carrying the cobra because I have yet to find a plan of my own when I started my own business).

Re: Well I got it . . .

Kara,

Look into self insuring. You can get a policy that fits you and the premiums are a business expense, off the top so you get dollar for dollar back.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Re: Well I got it . . .

Re: Well I got it . . .

I don't have much advise for the insurance end of it, but I know you worked so hard to get your business off the ground. The people need their olives!!!!

Re: Well I got it . . .

I am so sorry. I know you kind of expected it, but hoped otherwise
Whats the deal with them saying its not covered all of a sudden? Didn;t they do a pre-authorization

Our ins is with DH's company and claims to cover 4 (or maybe 3) IVFs - everything except ICSI and Assisted hatching. There was a lot of waiting for approval, but we were approved. Waitign to see the NSUH bill for what isn't covered

My company has BCBS and their coverage was at a % - I don;t remember the details though, since we're using DH's

Re: Well I got it . . .

Sorry to intrude on your board.

Our company covers hormonal therapy, artificial insemination, sonograms or other treatment.

They'll cover IVF, GIFT or simiar procedures if they have been unable to obtain a sucessful pregnancy by toehr means. up to $12K.

While it says they cover hormonal therapy, our RX plan absolutely ***** so they don't cover much at all.

I'll check into my husband's union plan now (Local #3).

Re: Well I got it . . .

Kara, I'm sorry.

From what the nurses and finicial people tell me I have one of the best insurance plans out there for IVF with Empire United Healthcare State Employees Plan (most teachers in the state).

I am not impressed by their list of Centers of Excellence for infertility. I believe IUI is unlimited and fully covered. There is a 50K lifetime benefit to cover any catestrophic health care cost. It is only available to the actual employee and they will deduct my IVF expenses from that. Once that is used, I'm not covered for the rest of my life so I better hope nothing else happens.

NSUH doesn't participate in my insurance but they take the 80% out of netwrok that my insurance company pays and waves the rest. Meds so far have been covered as well. All of my meds for this round of IVF came to $327. out of pocket for me.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Im sorry Kara....My insurance is the ame as Theresa, and they covered everything.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Sorry Kara, Your not alone. I am in the same boat..


We live in Texas now and we are going to Move to NJ so that we can be covered. Of course, I have to find a job there. My DH's insurance is from VA and is not mandated state.

It is soo unfair!

I have heard that working at Talbots part-time will give you the benefits. I am going to look into this. Went to College to work P-T at Talbots. Go Figure. But, it would be worth it.

Re: Well I got it . . .

My company has multiple insurances you can choose from once a year. My old insurance covered "the causes of infertility--with exceptions". That came down to almost nothing. I switched to Aetna which will cover a lifetime max of $25,000 for anything. From what I see hear, that might not get me very far.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Since I work in insurance...I know that theres not many companies who offer it. Matter of fact I WORK for my health insurance company and we have no IVF benefits

The two biggies I know of are North Shore LIJ. They have Empire..you pay 80% of allowed amounts up to 10K....which for most seems to equal ( rememeber its allowed amounts not charges) about 4 IVFS or more if some are FET's.

Now the BEST BEST BEST coverage I have seen is Suffolk County employees which have EMpire. They get 3 ivfs a year..YES A YEAR. And its covered at 100%!!!!! If I could be a freaking janitor for Suffolk I would to get their coverage!

Re: Well I got it . . .

Just wanted to 2nd that getting the insurance plan might actually be cheaper than paying for all of the treatements, plus you can write it off. You might end up spending A LOT on insurance but you would be spending it on the treatements anyway.
Good Luck!

Re: Well I got it . . .

Re: Well I got it . . .

first
second: I vote to save the olives.

If DH isnt happy he should def look for another job. I have GHI for NYC employees. I have a copay and my treatments are covered with a 25% coinsurance.
But its better than nothing.

Can you get a PT job at Starbucks. I hear they have great IF benefits and even for PT employees.


ETA: Dont run out and become a coffee barista yet. Now I cant remember if I was impressed b/c they have IF benefits or just because they offer insurance for P/T employees.

and of course some

Message edited 6/28/2006 7:40:41 AM.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Well DH makes the big bucks around here - at least this year. He has a great salary, probably right now makes about 4 times what I am making. So I am thinking maybe I will look for p/t job at Talbot's, The Gap (yeah right - too old and too fat!!), or Starbucks (same thing).

I am also looking into my own insurance plan for the company but it seems you can't get one with IF coverage....I will keep trying tho!

Hey Theresa do they need any cafeteria workers at your HS???????

Message edited 6/28/2006 10:09:02 AM.

Re: Well I got it . . .

Kara (& your DH),

Sorry to hear about this....makes you sick to the tummy???

I believe my insurance plans covers the diagnosis of infertility issues, and not IVF....if I remember correctly when I was doing the research. I have Aetna ----

Does DH has an option of a few different medical plans from NYC&CO? If so, maybe he can choose a different one at next enrollment time? We have a few different plans to choose from each enrollment period. Have to read all the fine print etc..

Good luck. I'd for sure go to Talbots!!! P/T, benefits, employee discount ---even if for holiday/birthday gifts for the woman in your life!!! and shoes too!

Message edited 6/28/2006 11:29:29 AM.

Re: Well I got it . . .

CIGNA pays 100% of IVF or fertility treatments-I called them and asked

Re: Well I got it . . .

Re: Well I got it . . .

My DH's plan gives us $20,000 lifetime IF coverage. We have Aetna PPO.