| Among all the 50 states in the Union, only 15 require | | | | the cost of IVF treatment is being brought down by |
| by law that all health insurance provide free in vitro | | | | the excess supply on the market - not even in a |
| fertilization help when the insured ask for it. If like my | | | | weak economy. |
| friends in Texas, you happen to live in one of the 35 | | | | Now if it really is something about the treatment that |
| states that do not recognize IVF as a basic health | | | | makes it so expensive, one does wonder why other |
| right, life can be very unfair for the childless. My | | | | developed countries with a cost-of-living index as high |
| friends, a couple who don't make more than $50,000 | | | | as ours get the job done at 20% the cost. Three |
| together a year, had been trying unsuccessfully for | | | | out of four Americans who would wish for it on the |
| three years to try and start a family. My friend the | | | | other hand, end up not getting it. All that happens |
| wife, has malformed Fallopian tubes; when nothing | | | | now is that the cost of IVF is getting to be so high |
| seemed to work, they traveled to Houston, armed | | | | year on year, people are heading to Africa, Eastern |
| with their savings and a will to finally get somewhere | | | | Europe or to Latin America for the help they need. |
| with their fond dream. The doctor at the clinic though | | | | It could possibly be a difference in philosophies that |
| had news for them - the cost of IVF treatment | | | | could have lead to how things have come to such a |
| could be so prohibitive at $20,000 a shot, that they | | | | pass. Developed countries other than the US believe |
| would probably have to come back with maybe | | | | that a child is a necessity in life; American |
| three or four years worth of savings for a chance. | | | | policymakers believe that desiring a child through IVF |
| How does one explain how the cost of IVF got to | | | | is a luxury. And they have a very sound theory that |
| be this high? In the beginning, it was simple demand | | | | behind it too. Eighteen-year-olds are never infertile. |
| vs. supply economics at play. The American Board of | | | | Practically 100% of all young adults have no problems |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology that trains doctors in the | | | | getting pregnant; it's only when you get into your |
| science of IVF treatment, has no more than 40 | | | | late 20s or past that that your body begins to |
| places in its classes each year for instance. Still, in | | | | develop problems. American healthcare policy makers |
| case you've noticed, any time you ring up an IVF | | | | therefore believe that infertility is not really a disease |
| doctor for an appointment, the wait is not typically | | | | - that it is just simple aging. And health insurers feel |
| that long. Years of high pricing for IVF treatments | | | | that they cannot possibly be in the youthfulness |
| has brought in as many doctors as the field can | | | | business. |
| handle; right at this moment, the country has a kind | | | | Still, since it does take humans a long time to find |
| of glut in the number of doctors willing to provide the | | | | someone good enough to settle down with and have |
| service, as compared to those who are willing to buy | | | | children with, one does wonder how well the logic of |
| it at the price. But still, it doesn't exactly appear that | | | | the argument would really stand. |