| It's hard enough to walk into your doctor's office to | | | | Even when looking at the daunting cost of a full IVF |
| ask for help to get pregnant to have a baby and | | | | cycle which can run from $10,000-$15,000 or more |
| then to learn how much it will cost can be doubly | | | | some of that might be covered by your regular |
| difficult. Before you think it's going to be impossible | | | | health insurance. Another way to help with the costs |
| to achieve your dream of holding your own baby in | | | | of IVF is to enroll in a shared risk program through |
| your arms let's take a look at what your insurance | | | | your RE or IVF lab. There are some requirements to |
| might actually be able to do for you. | | | | enroll [age is one of them - women must be 37 or |
| First of all, if you have fertility coverage as part of | | | | younger] but once you are accepted you pay a flat |
| your insurance consider yourself very lucky. Usually, all | | | | rate for up to three IVF cycles within a 2 year |
| you need to do is register with the program and | | | | period. If you don't become pregnant then your |
| keep them up to date with the procedures you're | | | | money, less the registration fee, is refunded to you. |
| going through each month. Be sure that you do what | | | | The risk is that you might get pregnant in the first |
| your plan requires because this is a great thing. | | | | cycle and one cycle of IVF would be cheaper than |
| If you weren't aware 15 states require employer | | | | the cost of the Shared Risk program. The decision |
| insurance options to include fertility coverage. Each | | | | you need to make is which is more important to you |
| state has different minimum requirements and small | | | | - saving a couple of thousand dollars or be assured |
| businesses are exempt from this requirement. If you | | | | that you can afford up to 3 IVF cycles which you |
| live in any of the following states double check your | | | | might not be able to afford if you had to pay for |
| insurance to see if you have any fertility coverage: | | | | them separately. |
| Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, | | | | Aside form Shared Risk programs that IVF labs run |
| Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New | | | | there is also private IVF insurance. Be careful when |
| Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and | | | | doing your research that you're not letting your |
| West Virginia. If you don't there's an office in each | | | | desire for a child to blind you to good sense and |
| state that you can contact for information and | | | | making good choices. There are good choices out |
| assistance. | | | | there but you'll need to find the one that works the |
| Another thing that will help with your costs is that | | | | best for your. |
| some of the procedures may be processed under | | | | Hopefully this article has given you some information |
| your regular health insurance. Blood work and | | | | regarding options available to you as you move |
| diagnostic procedures might be covered to determine | | | | through the fertility maze. Don't hesitate to ask |
| if you are indeed suffering from any additional | | | | questions of your insurance carrier or your doctor's |
| medical issues. If you are, then your health insurance | | | | office.. They really do want to help you. Insurance |
| might continue to cover some of your fertility | | | | can be another layer to wade through but the prize |
| procedures since it might be determined that you | | | | at the end is a happy and healthy baby so it's all |
| could not get pregnant without them. | | | | worth it in the end. |