Anyone going through fertility issues can attest to the fact that it takes a serious emotional toll on everyone involved. Not only that, growing your family is quite expensive, which doesn’t help matters at all. Those experiencing fertility issues know that IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) are very costly, and add to the emotional toll overall. That’s why it’s super important to check if your insurance covers either or both processes.
The Process Can Be Very Confusing
Holly Singh, founder of Wellhatched, shared that: “Navigating the complexities of fertility coverage can feel like a full-time job! Someone just beginning their journey doesn’t know what they don’t know, so there is a lot of time spent researching, seeking resources, trying to make a myriad of decisions, and often feeling frustrated with the lack of support.”
Singh said that the best way to figure out what your insurance covers is to contact your employer’s HR team or the insurance company directly. She said: “Most fertility clinics have patient and financial coordinators dedicated to explaining the logistics of your IVF coverage. Ask your nurses or the front desk about this! They are incredible resources who are happy to help.”
Either HR or the insurance company will provide you with a copy of your benefit package when you enroll, but you can also request that as well. This will include an explanation of the benefits that the plan covers. Going over this will help you understand several things, including if fertility treatment is covered, what the lifetime fertility maximum is, what requirements are needed to be eligible, as well as which services are covered under the benefit.
Make Sure You Work Closely With Your Provider To Stay On Top Of Things Once The Process Starts
After you do begin the IVF or IUI treatments, work with your healthcare providers and monitor diagnostic codes, since these can actually impact if your treatments will be covered or not and how or if they will be applied to benefits and maximums.
According to Singh, if you have minimal or no coverage for IUI or IVF: “If the plan doesn’t include coverage for fertility treatments, employers can request add-on plans (also known as ‘Riders’) from their insurance providers. These add-on plans provide coverage for IVF or infertility treatments (and medications, in some cases). But, as the demand for family-building benefits increases, employers are creating innovative solutions. A great example is the S.A.F.E. journey wallet at Affirm, a family-planning lifetime allowance (which includes surrogacy, adoption, fertility, and egg freezing). This benefit is funded by Affirm and provided outside of their insurance providers.”
Figure Out If Insurance Will Cover IVF Or IUI
