I wrote to the Senator and State Representative of Tennessee back in December regarding mandatory Infertility Insurance in the State of Tennessee. There are currently 15 states that have some form of mandatory Fertility Insurance.
I actually received a letter today from Senator Bo Watson thanking me for writing and bringing this situation to his attention. He said although he wasn't a reproductive medicine expert this is something he would investigate. I had included a cover letter with my letters just giving a background of my fertility history. I thought I'm sure they get a ton of these legislative letters and pass them up farely easy; so I wanted to personalize my letter and let him know how hard it is to get pregnant and the stress you go thru when you have fertility problems. He actually Wished me Best Wishes on my upcoming Marriage. I was really shocked to know someone actually read my letter.
If this is passed in the State of Tennessee, this would mean that insurance companies have to offer infertility insurance to their members. It has to be a covered expense under your policy. Yes, there are loopholes to where some things wouldn't be covered. For example here is what the State of Illinois covers:
DEFINITION OF FERTILITY/PATIENT REQUIREMENTS
Infertility means the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse or the inability to sustain a successful pregnancy.
COVERAGE
Group insurers and HMOs that provide pregnancy related coverage must provide infertility treatment including, but not limited to:
diagnosis of infertility;
IVF;
uterine embryo lavage;
embryo transfer;
artificial insemination;
GIFT;
ZIFT;
low tubal ovum transfer
Coverage for IVF, GIFT and ZIFT is provided if the patient has been unable to attain or sustain a successful pregnancy through reasonable, less costly, infertility treatments covered by insurance;
Each patient is covered for up to 4 egg retrievals. However, if a live birth occurs, 2 additional egg retrievals will be covered, with a lifetime maximum of 6 retrievals covered.
The procedures must be performed at facilities that conform with ACOG and ASRM guidelines.
EXCEPTIONS
Employers with fewer than 25 employees do not have to provide coverage.
Does not require religious employers to cover infertility treatment.
Employers who self-insure are exempt from the requirements of the law.
Of course, I think my coverage at work is a self-insured policy; however, I'm still going to push for the coverage if Tennessee ever passes this Act.
You can click here to print out a letter and mail to the Senator and State Representative of Tennessee. I know I would appreciate any help I could receive in this matter and I know there are a lot of women out there in the same situation as me.
Posted by tennbrat at January 9, 2008 7:22 PM | TrackBack