Federal Health Plans & IVF coverage

[Anonymous]

I got the same letter today. But they are still covered until Jan 1, 2011 and you can get a 3 month supply. So if you have BCBS Fed now, stock up for the future.

[Anonymous]

That really sucks. They covered something like $6K in meds for me this past year--thank God we got in under the wire. I'm going to see if I can get the prescriptions filled now for my FET in January.

By the way, I was looking at their brochure today and noticed another change. All ultrasounds will now have a $25 co-pay (previously there was only the $35 co-pay for the office visit). That means I'll now owe $60 per monitoring visit, which can add up fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That really sucks. They covered something like $6K in meds for me this past year--thank God we got in under the wire. I'm going to see if I can get the prescriptions filled now for my FET in January.

By the way, I was looking at their brochure today and noticed another change. All ultrasounds will now have a $25 co-pay (previously there was only the $35 co-pay for the office visit). That means I'll now owe $60 per monitoring visit, which can add up fast.

yikes - I didn't know that changed too! Is bcbs going down the tubes? They've always been so great at covering most everything medical!

[Anonymous]

So how would i go about getting meds now while on bc/bs for IVF in jan/feb ?

[Anonymous]

You MIGHT be able to do a timed intercourse cycle now, with your RE ordering a 3 month supply of meds (heavier than normal for TI) and then use the leftovers for your IVF cycle.

[Anonymous]

12:14 again --
It might be dicey to get your IVF meds now, but you could try. Maybe just ask your clinic if they could order them early (like as if you want to use this year's FSA money or something). They might not know exactly how much you will need for your cycle, but you could get most of them now and then fill in what you need later.
Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

RE: Monitoring ultrasounds, I think its no charge for pre natal care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2011 plans were just released and I don't see any that cover IVF (I'm in Atlanta, not DC so I can't get MDIPA). Did Aetna previously cover IVF? It doesn't look like they do now. I wish I'd had one of these options that pays for IUI when I had that this year! We need IVF though now and are trying to pick the best option--at least one that pays for the meds.

Federal Aetna (well, the Open Access HMO) still covers IVF in 2011 (at 50%).

[Anonymous]

My nurse at SG is going to order me meds to buy now for when I start IVF in Jan or Feb under BC/BS Fed Standard. A previous poster on here (this thread) said if go through the BC/BS' mail order pharmacy, you can get a 90 supply for one cost. With this news about BC/BS not covering drugs in 2011, I don't feel like I am missing out as much on coverage for my other medical needs by switching to an HMO in 2011.

I had a long conversation with my financial person at SG this week weighing the pros and cons of Aetna va MDIPA. I think MDIPA is the way to go since they cover drugs and Aetna doesn't. The big negative with MDIPA is that they count a cycle as a cycle once you start your meds-even if it is cancelled. However,you can freeze your eggs (not covered by insurance) and pay for the frozen egg cycle on your own without dipping in to MDIPA to use up one of your 3 cycles. Make sense?

Since it looks like MDIPA's business is going to pick up in 2011, hopefully they get their act together and better service their clients!

[Anonymous]

Another thing (I was the PP). Although I am switching to MDIPA, but I'm still going to stock up on BC/BS drugs before Dec. 31-just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I had a long conversation with my financial person at SG this week weighing the pros and cons of Aetna va MDIPA. I think MDIPA is the way to go since they cover drugs and Aetna doesn't. The big negative with MDIPA is that they count a cycle as a cycle once you start your meds-even if it is cancelled. However,you can freeze your eggs (not covered by insurance) and pay for the frozen egg cycle on your own without dipping in to MDIPA to use up one of your 3 cycles. Make sense?

Since it looks like MDIPA's business is going to pick up in 2011, hopefully they get their act together and better service their clients!

Have you check to see if your other doctors take MDIPA? We chose to go with Aetna this year because it seemed to me that more doctors take Aetna than MDIPA and that is important when you are part of an HMO.

[Anonymous]

I've had both Aetna and MDIPA and all my doctors took both. They only difference I noticed was the meds with MDIPA were cheap (150.00 vs. 3-4K with Aetna) and you have to get referrals with MDIPA but don't with AETNA. I saw no difference in access to doctors.

[Anonymous]

Kaiser Permanente seems to have the same IVF coverage as MDIPA. Unlike MDIPA and Kaiser, Aetna requires the infertility to be associated with endo. Am I wrong here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Kaiser Permanente seems to have the same IVF coverage as MDIPA. Unlike MDIPA and Kaiser, Aetna requires the infertility to be associated with endo. Am I wrong here?

We have MFI and Aetna covered our cycles no problem.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP, I'm not sure what MFI is?