Myth Busted: Doesn't insurance cover that?

This was my own thought originally.  My ovaries were shutting down and causing other health risks (osteoporosis, heart disease, etc)...so that was obviously a health problem.  Insurance covered health problems right?  So yes...insurance helped with HRT (hormone replacement) and doctor's visits.  I don't know if they would have covered my DEXA scan and other tests that were done at the NIH in Maryland.  My doctor didn't want me to have DEXA scan done and said it wasn't something to worry about.  Hello...you're a doctor and osteoporosis is one of the main concerns with POF...how can you say that's not something to worry about?

So...when I went into researching the coverage I had for infertility treatment I was shocked.  I was annoyed.  My insurance, which was considered to be one of the best offered in my state, covered nothing.  I don't even know if it covered blood tests or ultrasounds because they would be related to infertility treatment.  I looked up more information about insurance covering this anywhere.  There were only a few states that mandated it to be covered.  Imagine a state having to require it by law to be covered?  Makes you feel loved by your insurance company doesn't it.  Insurance companies really bite it sometimes.  I made a comparison in my mind that they covered other life changing or challenging events...heart problems, cancer, diabetes and a number of others.  The treatment of these was not 100% guaranteed to work either.  And yes I realized that these conditions threatened physical life...the ability to go on living.  But at the time it felt like my infertility (such a definitive diagnosis..."never have kids on your own") could have the same effect on me.  It caused me to be in a pretty dark place and a great deal depressed for some time.  But guess what?  Insurance covers mental therapy.  I didn't quite get to the level that I took advantage of that...sometimes I think I should have but I was stubborn.  Basically if you find yourself infertile, plan on lots of therapy to get a bang for your buck but don't plan on any coverage to get you knocked up.

People don't understand the cost that can go into infertility treatment either.  They know it's "not cheap" but they don't really know the price tag.  The fertile have never had to worry about such things are IUIs, IVF, DE, ART, ICSI, SA, 3 day vs 5 day transfers, etc etc.  I doubt most of them even know what those acronyms mean.  I wouldn't either...if I didn't have to live with some of them.  And each one of those acronyms comes with a price tag.  How far you go up on the scale depends on what your individual issues may be.

Adoption has some insurance coverage typically it seems.  But adoption is not necessarily any cheaper or guaranteed.  Some people sit on adoption waiting lists for years while birth mothers look at their profiles and move onto the next.  Or have been waiting on a country to finalize an adoption when for whatever reason the borders are closed or the process is denied or frozen indefinitely.  Many are victims of fraud from horrible people who would scam them out of not only their money but their dreams of being a parent.

The sad thing to me is that Resolve states that according to many studies offering comprehensive infertility coverage to an insurance package can actually reduce cost and premium for those that pay into the pot.  Take that one to the bank insurance companies and insured people...literally.

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This post is in response to National Infertility Awareness Week.  Resolve has challenged bloggers to Bust a Myth regarding infertility.  Bring awareness of infertility by busting a myth yourself.