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When you first get news about issues with infertility, it can be heartbreaking news. All the dreams of holding your newborn and watching him or grow have seemingly gone out the window. However, there are options out there to help make it a reality again. Thanks to the gift of modern day medicine there are certain procedures that can help you past this formidable hurdle. While this is great news, the bad news is the process may be quite expensive. In fact, it can be so costly that most couples can't afford to have any of them done. This is why infertility insurance is such a big issue.
You will find that just to have the tests done can cost thousands of dollars. Then of course, if you decide to invest in a program with a specialist, these extra visits and tests can occur more often which means more money. Did you know some assisted reproductive procedures cost over $4,000? When you get the in-vitro fertilization process we're talking even more. By the time it's all said and done you could have a $10,000 to $20,000 bill staring back at you.
While money seemingly has no bounds when it comes to life, this can take a huge toll on a couple's financial budget. If you need help, then we highly recommend looking into infertility insurance. There are several types of "specialty" insurance that might be able to help you reach the financial plateau a fertilization process requires. We do recommend looking at your current insurance company first, then branching out if it's not there.
For the cost of a small premium Infertility Insurance gives you protection in case you are told a natural pregnancy process isn't possible. The policy may offer complete or, more likely, partial coverage. This can include a long list of tests and procedures, but the most common are fertility tests, artificial insemination and treatment of other health issues causing the issue. Keep in mind the company will most likely start with the least expensive steps, and then see how you progress.
If you want to get the best prices on your Infertility Insurance, then you should purchase it before you know there is an infertility issue. Most companies won't accept pre-existing conditions. The whole reason they provide it in the first place is because, on average, the probability of someone dealing with this is relatively small. If a doctor does tell you there is a challenge to overcome, then the option becomes more expensive with the insurance company.
One interesting approach of some policies that the couple must pay for the treatment upfront. However, if by chance you take this step and it still doesn't work, then the insurance company will refund some of the money spent. The usual percentages are around 70%-100%. Another thing to understand is the "financing" option isn't really insurance, but in some respects a specialty loan program. If the fertility treatment process is unsuccessful, some loans do not have to be paid back in full. It's their way of issuing a partial refund.
Due to the health insurance industry today, we highly recommend that you get help from a specialist. Just remember that some people cannot obtain this specialty coverage, depending on the guidelines of your existing insurance company. For instance, they may require that you have been trying to get pregnant for over a year with no success. There are other restrictions as well, which is why you need to read carefully the policy before purchasing.
In the end Infertility Insurance is not an instant answer when it comes to the costs of these various treatments. Then again, it is well worth it to do a little investigating. There are tons of costs associated with new parenthood, so it might be wise not to burn through your family savings in an effort to start a family.
Michael Key has written extensively for 30 years on a wide variety of technical issues. For a concise
but very helpful source of information on infertility insurance look for his new book Secrets of Infertility
Relief available only at InfertilityRelief.com.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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