Petition for mandatory IF coverage

ILoveRedVino · July 2015

***Sorry about the font on here, but I wanted to share this. See the link below to add your name to the petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-all-insurance-cover-infertility-basic-healthcare-acknowledge-infertility-disease-not-choice

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

No one expects to receive a diagnosis of infertility, or in even more crippling times, unexplained infertility, but they do. Then we reach out to the insurance companies WE pay to help us, not expecting to be turned away, and we are. Infertility is a disease that men and women do not choose, nor do we welcome the depression, shame, and anxiety that accompany it.

It is referred to as a "pre-existing condition" that requires months, to years, of care, but how is being diagnosed with the inability to do what you were BORN to do, different than someone who has diabetes and seeks possible lifetime assistance through their insurance?

Mandate infertility coverage on a state level, so those who already suffer do not have to spend more on a second policy, just to have a dream come to life.

islandmonkey8 · July 2015

Signed! Will be sharing as soon as I have access to FB at home!

GABride2010 · July 2015

This is coming up weird on mobile. I will look at this on my computer at home.

HoneyBee973 · July 2015

Signed and shared!

lifeonthehill · July 2015

I am fortunate to have great IF coverage if I ever needed it. I want everyone to be so fortunate!

mkc3888 · July 2015

Shared and signed

als1982 · July 2015

ILoveRedVino said:
***Sorry about the font on here, but I wanted to share this. See the link below to add your name to the petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-all-insurance-cover-infertility-basic-healthcare-acknowledge-infertility-disease-not-choice

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.
No one expects to receive a diagnosis of infertility, or in even more crippling times, unexplained infertility, but they do. Then we reach out to the insurance companies WE pay to help us, not expecting to be turned away, and we are. Infertility is a disease that men and women do not choose, nor do we welcome the depression, shame, and anxiety that accompany it.
It is referred to as a "pre-existing condition" that requires months, to years, of care, but how is being diagnosed with the inability to do what you were BORN to do, different than someone who has diabetes and seeks possible lifetime assistance through their insurance?
Mandate infertility coverage on a state level, so those who already suffer do not have to spend more on a second policy, just to have a dream come to life.

Playing the devil's advocate here, but you can't compare IF with diabetes. Diabetes (assuming Type 1 Juvenile diabetes) is a life threatening condition that without treatment results in death. Not saying I agree or disagree with your petition, but that comparison is a very poor one.

islandmonkey8 · July 2015

als1982 said:

***Sorry about the font on here, but I wanted to share this. See the link below to add your name to the petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-all-insurance-cover-infertility-basic-healthcare-acknowledge-infertility-disease-not-choice

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.
No one expects to receive a diagnosis of infertility, or in even more crippling times, unexplained infertility, but they do. Then we reach out to the insurance companies WE pay to help us, not expecting to be turned away, and we are. Infertility is a disease that men and women do not choose, nor do we welcome the depression, shame, and anxiety that accompany it.
It is referred to as a "pre-existing condition" that requires months, to years, of care, but how is being diagnosed with the inability to do what you were BORN to do, different than someone who has diabetes and seeks possible lifetime assistance through their insurance?
Mandate infertility coverage on a state level, so those who already suffer do not have to spend more on a second policy, just to have a dream come to life.

Playing the devil's advocate here, but you can't compare IF with diabetes. Diabetes (assuming Type 1 Juvenile diabetes) is a life threatening condition that without treatment results in death. Not saying I agree or disagree with your petition, but that comparison is a very poor one.
Insurance covers Viagra for erections. Erections aren't life threatening, therefore should insurance not cover that as well?

als1982 · July 2015

islandmonkey8 said:

als1982 said:

ILoveRedVino said:
***Sorry about the font on here, but I wanted to share this. See the link below to add your name to the petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-all-insurance-cover-infertility-basic-healthcare-acknowledge-infertility-disease-not-choice

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.
No one expects to receive a diagnosis of infertility, or in even more crippling times, unexplained infertility, but they do. Then we reach out to the insurance companies WE pay to help us, not expecting to be turned away, and we are. Infertility is a disease that men and women do not choose, nor do we welcome the depression, shame, and anxiety that accompany it.
It is referred to as a "pre-existing condition" that requires months, to years, of care, but how is being diagnosed with the inability to do what you were BORN to do, different than someone who has diabetes and seeks possible lifetime assistance through their insurance?
Mandate infertility coverage on a state level, so those who already suffer do not have to spend more on a second policy, just to have a dream come to life.
Playing the devil's advocate here, but you can't compare IF with diabetes. Diabetes (assuming Type 1 Juvenile diabetes) is a life threatening condition that without treatment results in death. Not saying I agree or disagree with your petition, but that comparison is a very poor one.

Insurance covers Viagra for erections. Erections aren't life threatening, therefore should insurance not cover that as well?

I'm not arguing that insurance should or shouldn't cover IF treatment. What I am saying is the diabetes comparison is completely flawed.

islandmonkey8 · July 2015

als1982 said:

als1982 said:

***Sorry about the font on here, but I wanted to share this. See the link below to add your name to the petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-all-insurance-cover-infertility-basic-healthcare-acknowledge-infertility-disease-not-choice

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.
No one expects to receive a diagnosis of infertility, or in even more crippling times, unexplained infertility, but they do. Then we reach out to the insurance companies WE pay to help us, not expecting to be turned away, and we are. Infertility is a disease that men and women do not choose, nor do we welcome the depression, shame, and anxiety that accompany it.
It is referred to as a "pre-existing condition" that requires months, to years, of care, but how is being diagnosed with the inability to do what you were BORN to do, different than someone who has diabetes and seeks possible lifetime assistance through their insurance?
Mandate infertility coverage on a state level, so those who already suffer do not have to spend more on a second policy, just to have a dream come to life.
Playing the devil's advocate here, but you can't compare IF with diabetes. Diabetes (assuming Type 1 Juvenile diabetes) is a life threatening condition that without treatment results in death. Not saying I agree or disagree with your petition, but that comparison is a very poor one.

Insurance covers Viagra for erections. Erections aren't life threatening, therefore should insurance not cover that as well? I'm not arguing that insurance should or shouldn't cover IF treatment. What I am saying is the diabetes comparison is completely flawed.
I think you're nit picking and honestly should gauge your audience. IF can lead to depression, anxiety, and other life threatening diseases. But just because you don't see not having a kid as life threatening, it can't be compared to diabetes? Have you ever lost a child? Have you ever been unable to conceive for some unknown reason and been unable to afford to even find out what is wrong because insurance won't cover it? Have you been through any of the trauma IF can bring? I see no reason you can say without a doubt that IF is not life threatening with such blatant disregard for the true turmoil it puts too many people through.

als1982 · July 2015

It's a huge jump to say I have no disregard for the turmoil that IF puts people through. I can absolutely empathize with the suffering of those with that diagnosis. But the fact is, it's not a life threatening condition. It's just not. Depression and anxiety are, and yes, ideally, insurance should be compelled to cover those.

Frankly, IMO until the U.S. mandates care for all and care is made available for those with life threatening and life limiting conditions, I think IF coverage should take a back seat. In a perfect world, it should be covered. But our health care system is so broken, that saving lives should be the first priority.

And you're right, it is gross that Viagra is covered. Our system is so stupid.

islandmonkey8 · July 2015

Have you really lurked at all on this board? Do you see who you are talking to? I can't believe you're saying what you are. You think this shouldn't be a priority because other things should be in front of it? So only one change can be made at a time in this country?

skreedrake · July 2015

Health insurance pays for many, many things that are not life threatening. It pays for preventative care, birth control, medication for mental health, etc. Just a few years ago, it paid for a mole I had removed; it was not cancerous or in any way life threatening. I wanted it removed because it was uncomfortable when my seatbelt rubbed agains it.

It's also paid to remove some cysts on my wrist, physical therapy after said surgery, pain medication, etc.

Why shouldn't it pay for infertility, too?

ETA: Also, why is it gross that Viagra is covered? Sexual healthis also important, and not having s healthy sex life can lead to things like anxiety and depression. It's all health care.

lb1117 · July 2015

I signed the petition. I don't even like in the US, but if giving my name and email means that one of the amazing ladies here gets IF covered, it's worth it.

@als1982, you have no idea how life changing IF has been for ILRV and many others. Unless you are going to be supportive, this wasn't the post to comment in.

FutureMrsWright2012 · July 2015

How I understand the author of the petition is that he/she is simply trying to explain that infertility is a medical condition (as is diabetes). It's not a competition for what medical condition is "better" or "worse" than another.

As a side note, it's also super easy to not feel like insurance coverage for IF is a priority when you've been TTC for 3 months. While I, by no means, would wish this AWFUL journey on anyone, I'd like to see how your feelings change after having to spend 10's of thousands of dollars OOP on IF evaluation/treatment and still have empty arms. My decision to have a family should not be restricted by a multi-billion dollar industry who thinks that my medical condition should be treated the same as plastic surgery.

ETA - for clarity and formatting.

ILoveRedVino · July 2015

FWIW, I didn't make the comparison. That information was copied and pasted from the petition.

But I will say, I spent over $40k to have a baby. That includes the genetic testing of embryos to make sure that we would not have another stillborn baby. I'm not saying that it was a medical need (it was a want, I get it), but neither are other things that insurance does cover. It doesn't make sense. Other states have chosen to make IF coverage required and I wish mine would do the same.

Petition for mandatory IF coverage

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

Re: Petition for mandatory IF coverage

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

Mandate All Insurance to Cover Infertility as Basic Healthcare. Acknowledge Infertility as a Disease, Not a Choice.

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