Understanding your Insurance Benefits

Health insurance coverage is a complicated subject. Coverage for infertility treatment varies from plan to plan and from insurance company to insurance company. Mosr states do not mandate your insurance company to cover fertility evaluation or treatment . It is very important for you to research what your insurance plan covers in terms of evaluation and treatment of infertility, either online or by calling the insurer or benefits representative, or both, optimally before your first visit.
We understand that dealing with the insurance companies regarding your fertility coverage might be intimidating at first glance. To protect yourself from incurring fees that may not be covered by your insurance plan, you should obtain written verification of your benefits.
Insurance companies have specific guidelines to help you determine the extent of your fertility benefits. They are obligated to provide you with this information. Typically, the information is delivered only in response to specific questions asked by the insured (you) and some important information may be omitted unintentionally.
To verify your insurance benefits, please refer to the customer service phone number printed on your insurance card. When verifying your benefits, you should:

1. Obtain the name of the customer service representative giving you information.
2. Document the date and time of your phone call.
3. Request written confirmation of your specific benefits.

Review your benefits booklet (should be available from your employer if you are part of a group plan.) Copy the section that pertains to infertility benefits. Please understand that if treatment is not covered by your insurance plan, payment is due at the time of service.
FERTILITY INSURANCE QUESTIONS
If infertility is included in your policy coverage, the following questions should be asked:

1. Is my policy for diagnostic service only?
2. Is Diagnostic Code 628.9 covered?
3. Do I have coverage for the treatment of underlying conditions that may be the cause of my infertility?
4. Would CPT codes 58322 & 58323, for IUI, with diagnosis code V26.1 be covered?
5. Would advanced Reproductive Technology – using CPT codes 58970, 58974, 58976 for aspiration/retrieval and transfer, 89250 through 89280 for embryology labs, and the diagnosis code 628.9 be covered?
6. Is there a pre-existing clause on my policy in reference to infertility treatment or surgery procedures?
7. Do I have any drug coverage for infertility treatment? If yes, where? (mail order or local pharmacy) What drugs? (i.e. Bravelle, Follistim, Gonal F, Lupron, Menopur)
8. Do I need a referral and/or prior authorization for any office visits or procedures? (If yes, please obtain a referral before your visit with us. If you do not, your visit/services may not be covered)
9. Have I met my deductible?
10. What is my co-pay or co-insurance that will be due?

Petition to mandate IF coverage in all 50 states!

Click, sign up, and sign. Easy as that! 25,000 signatures are needed by the end of March and we are not even close!

Please pass it along/ post it/ tweet it/ pin it!   Thanks to all in advance!

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/approve-infertility-coverage-every-state/W43WWdd6?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Calling All Ladies in Dallas

 

Free Fertility Seminars - Saturday, March 10, 2012

Attendees Will Be Eligible to Enter Drawing
for a Free Donated IVF Cycle

Please join SHER for a free town hall seminar hosted by Dr. Walid Saleh and Dr. Geoffrey Sher.  The topics will include:
- An overview of fertility causes, diagnosis methods and treatment options
- Male factor infertility and treatment options
- Breakthrough treatment protocols that can substantially increase success rates.
- Genetic Testing/Diagnosis to improve IVF success
- Your choice of discussion topics
Bring your questions for Q&A with the doctors.
We'll be donating a free IVF cycle to one couple/individual at each seminar by random drawing  (some restrictions apply) IVF Cycle Terms and Conditions

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Two Seminars to Choose from:

• 10:00am-12:00 Noon (Check-in at 9:30am)
• 1:30-3:30pm (Check-in at 1:00pm)

Where:
Medical City Hospital
City Hall Auditorium - Care Tower "E"
7777 Forest Lane; Dallas, TX 75230Click For Directions to Medical City Hospital
Map of Medical City Campus

Click Here to Register

Clinical Trial

 

Impact of Parental Support on Pregnancy Outcomes (IPSO) Trial- Day 3 Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) With Day 5 Fresh Transfer

Natera is recruiting patients for a research study evaluating pregnancy and implantation rates in women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS). PGS is also referred to as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) for aneuploidy.

Healthy women undergoing IVF who are between the ages of 35 to 42 years are being recruited to participate in a randomized study.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether PGS- testing of embryos created during IVF for chromosomal abnormalities, prior to transfer to the uterus- improves pregnancy and implantation rates in patients when compared to patients whose embryos are not tested. PGS will be conducted using 24 Chromosome Aneuploidy Screening with Parental Support from Natera.

All subjects who qualify and enroll will receive discounted IVF medications (both TEST and CONTROL arms). If you become pregnant during the study, you will receive a small payment for providing information about your pregnancy and birth. If you are assigned to the TEST arm of the study you will receive free PGS.

For more information & to see if you qualify at a participating IVF Clinic :

http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct2/show/NCT01194531?term=ivf+united+states&recr=Open&rank=2

Lights Camera Action

Free Micro IVF Cycle from East Coast Fertility

East Coast Fertility has launched an Extreme Family-Building Makeover contest, the third and final contest in its summer giveaway series. Three contest winners will each receive a $100 restaurant gift certificate and be eligible for a free Micro IVF Cycle at East Coast Fertility. The IVF cycle will be awarded the day after Labor Day 2011.

To enter the East Coast Fertility contest, contestants must submit a video stating why they need an Extreme Family-Building Makeover. Prizes will be awarded to the top three videos, and those three will be automatically entered to win the Grand prize: a free Micro IVF cycle. Winners from East Coast Fertility's April and June contests are also entered to win.     

Complete rules, including submission requirements, are available on the August 1, 2011 posts of East Coast Fertility's Facebook page and its blog, The Fertility Daily or by clicking this link.

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/p1832374/free-micro-ivf-cycle-from-east-coast-fertility#ixzz1U9mRqJnx

 

This contest will run from August 1, 2011, through August 28, 2011. Entries must be posted by 11:59 p.m. EST on August 28, 2011. Complete contest rules are available on http://www.eastcoastfertility.com/. The three contest winners will be announced on TheFertilityDaily blog (http://www.thefertilitydaily.com/) and Facebook on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011.

About East Coast Fertility:
East Coast Fertility (ECF) is the premier center for infertility care on Long Island. Established in 2002 by Dr. David Kreiner, the program is designed to utilize the most recent developments in reproductive technology while minimizing risks to the patient. ECF's use of Micro IVF and their encouragement of Single Embryo Transfers are evidence of their desire to limit multiple births. In addition to achieving the first successful IVF, cryopreserved, and donor egg pregnancies on Long Island, Dr. Kreiner and the ECF team are known for delivering high quality care with a personal touch. Dr. Kreiner's distinguished line of training, experience and awards culminate in some of the most competitive pregnancy success rates in the country. His personal philosophy is demonstrated daily through practice policies that make fertility treatment both affordable and successful.

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/p1832374/free-micro-ivf-cycle-from-east-coast-fertility#ixzz1U9mV5AQU

Miss Manners

This week I received a disturbing email from a donor (who donated quite a bit of meds to the program with multiple recipients). I am very upset to hear, as well as to report to you all her feelings regarding this program. Although she is donating more meds to the program, she wanted to make me aware that NONE of the ladies she had previously donated to had thanked her in the least bit for sending her meds to them at no cost (other than shipping).  Because of this she has had reservations about donating more meds to the program which could benefit so many OOP IFers in need.  She was generous and she wanted to feel appreciated which we can all understand. Please remember to put yourself in the lady who is donating her meds to you shoes, not all of our donors have succeeded in getting pregnant. Actually quite a few are donating their meds because the meds will expire before their next attempt at IVF/IUI.  Many of the women are also OOP which is why they feel the need to donate their meds to someone who they feel a common bond with.

Some wonderful ideas shared by donors who have connected with their recipients -

• Email your donor when you have updates, here are some examples:

         "I just came back from my RE and I have 20 follies growing we are hoping for ER in two days"

A picture of your Embryos/new baby "Just wanted to pop in and say Thank you - it's partly because of your generosity that we are here!"

• Send a link to your blog so if your donor would like to 'stay tuned' to your journey they can (ask for theirs too)
• When you receive your meds in the mail - hand write an old fashioned 'thank you' card (using the return receipt address from your meds package)
• Ask them about their journey, remember they have an IF story too... know who your meds are coming from 

Kelly's low turned into a HIGH!

My husband Chris and I began fertility treatments in October 2009. After a few rounds of clomid (unsuccessful), four failed IUI's (the latter two we moved onto injectibles), and two IVF cycles ending in BFN's, we were feeling the hardship of paying for drugs out of pocket. Even though we got creative and switched to his insurance after mine had run out, those drugs are expensive! We had nothing left, and we seriously considered stopping our quest to become parents. 

I remember our lowest point (too) well: It was time to do my Ovidrel injection prior to our second IVF retrieval. Somehow I managed to pull the rubber stopper back too far on the pre-filled syringe, and all of that precious Ovidrel dribbled down my hand onto our bathroom counter. I lost it. This, I thought, was our last chance. If I couldn't do my trigger shot, how could we keep our retrieval appointment...retrieve the eggs...GET PREGNANT AT ALL? We ended up finding a Walgreens that carried Ovidrel and I had my RE call in a last-minute prescription about ten minutes before they closed. It was so stressful, and the extra $90 we spent that night only made me feel worse...

And then I found oopmeds on a fertility message board. The program allowed us to undergo a third round of IVF, which WORKED :). I'm now 27 weeks pregnant with a little boy. We could NOT have afforded (nor would my husband have considered) a third round of IVF without your help. You are amazing, and I wish you all the wonderful luck and karma you've earned by helping so many women like me!!!

Kelly

http://kbrecycling.tumblr.com/