will fed bc/bs pay for mtg with RE

[Anonymous]

I saw RE after 6 months of trying last Nov. I got pregnant after the HSG, bloodwork and DH's SA. We never went to get the results. I lost that pregnancy to m/c in Jan/Feb. I then got pregnant again without help in April, and just "lost" that pregnancy to trisomy 18. (yes, I am the earlier 43 y.o. poster).

I want to go back to the RE to up our chances and maybe do IVF with PGD, or at least look into it. Will Fed BC/BS Std pay for me to go back? Will I need bloodwork/HSG again and will the insurance pay for that twice in one year? Will the intervening pregnancies mean I am not infertile, and thus don't require treatment?

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for your losses! I'm with fed bcbs too- it's my understanding that they'll cover everything but the actual IUI/IVF procedures (also, they won't cover the monitoring for those procedures). They will cover diagnostic testing and meds for all cycles, including iui and ivf. In my experience, bcbs is good about covering all types of med testing without requiring detailed justification. I think tgey just have a problem with covering "artificial" procedures. I'm on a medicated timed intercourse cycle, which is apparently identical to an iui cycle but w/o the actual insemination, and they're covering everything. Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. Who is your RE? I most interested in timed intercourse, since it seems I can get pregnant, but I want to up the chances.

[Anonymous]

My RE is Dr. Saffan at shady grove. I really, really like him - he's very kind and hasn't pushed us to move faster than we'd like. Take care!

[Anonymous]

They should cover the RE appointment no problem. I would recommend Dr Sacks with Columbia Fertility as he is very friendly to older women ttc. If you have the standard plan, they WILL now cover monitoring for IUI and IVF cycles, just not the final procedures themselves.

[Anonymous]

Pp, is that a very recent change in bcbs coverage? I'm on the standard plan, and as of last week, bcbs would not cover monitoring for iui or ivf.

[Anonymous]

It was my understanding that they changed their interpretation last spring (09). Before that, I never did IUI, because then I'd have to pay for all the monitoring too.

[Anonymous]

Not the op, but thanks for the info - I'll have to f/u with my plan - that's one reason we're reluctant to do iui. It'd be $1200 out of pocket for an iui at sg.