Toot Toot!

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). Obviously this wasn’t something I paid much attention to before I realized I suffered from infertility. But as I’ve struggled and learned more and seen others struggle, I realize I wanted to call attention to it.

One in eight women suffer from infertility. I honestly believe it is higher than that, since I know so many people that suffer. But that is a lot of people. And no one ever talks about it. There is such a stigma around infertility and assisted reproductive technologies like IUI and IVF. And there shouldn’t be. Not only does someone you know suffer from it, but these assisted technologies are generally the only way LGBTQ+ people can get pregnant.

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But still these procedures are generally not covered by insurance. And even if they are, there are still a lot of out-of-pocket costs that insurance won’t cover. Let’s not even get into the fact that if any of these things were happening to men, there would be no question of coverage.

I am lucky enough to live in an IVF mandated state. Illinois was one of the first states to mandate this coverage, back in the early 90s. But as of right now, only 20 states mandate this coverage. There are also A LOT of loopholes to this mandate, which is why my company didn’t have infertility benefits……until now.

Yep, as of March 1, I FINALLY have coverage for infertility. And how did that come about, you ask? Well I did it. ME. I was a squeaky wheel and got the grease and in turn am going to hopefully help so many people at my company! 

Am I going to toot my own horn? DAMN STRAIGHT I AM.

My organization has over 10,000 employees. So one in eight means that a lot of our employees probably need this coverage. And a lot of them maybe have put it off because of the high cost of these procedures, or like me, they’ve gone into significant debt to pay for these procedures. And maybe, like me, they haven’t been able to try more than once and are still hoping for a baby.

BUT NO MORE!

I decided to write a letter to our HR Department back in September. I assumed it would fall on deaf ears and that nothing would happen and then I would just try, try again. But they didn’t. It took several months. And a lot of following up, but it was added. I am so thankful that they even considered it and even more so, that they did add it, and like most plans, it doesn’t actually increase premiums for employees to add it.

Now, I wish I had done this sooner, but in the thick of my journey, I couldn’t handle this other stress and adding one more thing to my plate. And while this coverage still doesn’t cover donor eggs, it will still cover all the medications and bloodwork and ultrasounds for my embryo transfer. Plus, there is the relief knowing that if the first transfer doesn’t work, I don’t have to come up with another $5,000 to pay for a second transfer, because it will be covered. And since I’m still paying off debt from the Lying Liar™, not having to take out another loan for something makes my stress levels much more manageable, and that is only good for helping me get pregnant come time for embryo transfer.

Which is getting close! I go next week for an ultrasound and blood work to make sure I’ve ovulated and then I’ll start the one medication. After my May period I’ll add in all the other meds to plump up my lining and hopefully we’ll be transferring an embryo at the end of May.

TOOT, TOOT INDEED.