Busting An Infertility Myth

Myth: IUI and Other Fertility Treatments Are Covered By Insurance

Excuse me as I hysterically laugh out loud hearing this. Let me explain.

You see due to the health problems that I experienced while pregnant, my doctor asked that my husband and I wait until our son was at least a year old to give my body a chance to recover. She also recommended that I lose weight as well. And I did . . . both of them!

After no success for a couple of months, we began infertility treatments again. I didn’t worry too much. We were able to get pregnant after a Hysterosolpingogram (HSG scan) and one IUI. Plus the insurance covered part of the HSG scan, the follicle scan, and the HCG injection, so there was not too much in regards to out of pocket expenses. However, this time . . . NADA! In fact when I called them to ask why, the person I talked to on the phone was extremely rude and let me know that the previous time was an error on their part and it would “NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER, HAPPEN AGAIN.” Yeah, I tried talking to someone higher up and just got a “form letter” stating what their policies are, what our plan covers, and a ‘sucks to be you’ response.

The real kicker is that our insurance company will pay for certain tests to determine if you are infertile. But once you get that diagnosis, you can forget them paying for ANYTHING remotely construed to be infertility related.

If things went like last time, it wouldn’t be too awful financially. Instead we have just finished round five, with entirely everything out of pocket and still no success. Since our insurance is so “fabulous”, we easily rack up a $1000/month in bills all for a hope, a dream, that I can’t help but feel rapidly slip away.

I have to admit there are times that it is difficult to spend the large amounts of money every single month, to only result in a “failure.” It is hard not to be bitter or angry. To not feel that I have done nothing more than each month take $1000 and just thrown it away in the trash. This is especially the case when there are so many other places I can see us putting the money that I know I have control over and will produce the result I want.

So please, excuse me while I laugh at this myth. I could really use the chuckle.

To find out more about infertility and/or how to talk with someone who is currently struggling with this condition, please visit: http://www.resolve.org/infertility101

To learn more about National Infertility Awareness Week, please visit: http://www.resolve.org/takecharge