So its open enrollment at my company, and though the government just passed legislation to prohibit self-insured employers from putting lifetime maximums or "caps" on benefits, apparently infertility is not considered an "essential" health benefit, and is not included in this policy. Now I work for a very large high-profile company that produces and sells TONS of baby products and touts itself as a family friendly company, but they think infertility treatment is not essential. This is crap.
Yes, I know I am lucky to have had the coverage that I have, but its still not enough. After 2 (well, 1.5) IVF's, we are just now getting to the root of the "problem" and I am out of benefits as well as the thousands of dollars we have already spent OOP. My company can afford all the lost productivity from me being sad all the time, crying in my car while driving and in front of customers, and taking time to see a therapist, etc,etc,etc, but infertility coverage is not essential? Plus, nobody can even point me in the direction of who to talk to so I can get this changed, or at least reconsidered.
I called my health advocate to see if they could put me in touch with whoever has the power to re-evaluate their policy. After the nurse on the other end of the line tells me she can't help me get in touch with someone confidentially at my company about this, she tells me to read the book "The Secret" and to think positively. Really?
Thanks for reading my rant.
Re: The Secret (longish rant)
Me: 32 - Stage II Endo / DH: 36 - Low count and morphology (1%)
IUIs 1-3 BFN, lap Dec. 2010, IUIs 4-6 BFN
IVF w/ICSI #1 - ER 2/8: 24R 19M 9F ET 2/13 2-5 day blasts (no frosties) = BFP - b/g twins!
E & C Born 10/19/2012
That's total BS. Good thing it was the phone, so u couldn't actually choke her.
I am suprised by the advocate, bc that is their JOB...and we are in the same industry.
Maybe ask for the manager of the advocates. I often get mixed answers from mine. My friend has had great luck with our, and was able to get a policy changed...so that her egg donor's meds were cover by our Rx plan.
Im sorry that lady sucked a$$.
Me - DX Hashimoto's Disease, Hypothyroid, Rheumatoid Arthritis
DH - DX Azoospermia - Sertoli Cell Syndrome
DS-IUI #1-4 BFN IVF #1 - BFP! It's a boy!!!
TTC in 2008. Stage II/III endo, Hashimotos hypothyroid, low morph (3%).
2 cycles Clomid/Ovidrel/TI/Crinone=BFN.
IUI #1 - 4 Follistim/Ovidrel/IUI/Crinone = BFN.
IVF #1 - Antagonist w/ ICSI 4/10. 17 retrieved, 5DT of 2, BFN
IVF #2 - Long Lupron w/ ICSI 6/10. 15 retrieved, 3DT of 2, BFFN!!
Lap 7/21/10
IVF #3 - Clomid/Antagonist w/ ICSI 10/10. 14 retreived, 3DT of 3, BFP 10/20 but m/c. No HB 11/15/10 - D&C 11/17/10.
FET - 2 blasts, 1 survived the thaw. Transfer 2/19. Beta #1 3/1 375, Beta #2 3/3 885, Beta #3 3/8 4261, Beta #4 3/11 9005. U/S 3/8 1 sac 1 yolk, U/S 3/16 1 heartbeat 114bpm!
James born Oct. 24th 2011 via c-section at 38 weeks!
Surprise BFP - Jack born April 28, 2013 via VBAC after PTL at 33 1/2 weeks!
The Secret is BS when it comes to infertility. Clearly that lady is a FH. I'm all for positive thinking, but it's not going to change the MFI or immature eggs... Nor will it help me win Powerball.
She can stick it.
IVF#1 Oct 2009 (CCRM) - BFN
IVF#2 March 2010 - Poor response/cancelled
DE IVF#1 Aug 2010 - BFN
DE IVF#2 Dec 2010 - Transferred 1, 2 frozen - BFP!
TTC#2 FET Jan 2013 - Transferred 1 - BFP!