Aetna federal employee benefits + Shady Grove tips?

[Anonymous]

I'm going to use the Aetna negotiated rate with Shady Grove, but I wondered if anyone had any tips for bringing the costs down for things like meds and monitoring.

For example, I heard I could do diagnostic + monitoring through my OBGYN and get things coded in such a way that they're covered.

Looking for any tips and tricks.

[Anonymous]

As a fellow fed, I feel very disappointed that we do not have any insurance options that include coverage for ivf. My fed insurance (carefirst) covered all diagnostics at shady grove, so you may want to look into whether or not those are covered. Carefirst also covered all of my monitoring appointments during IVF, which i was surprised about and sort of expect that to be reversed at some point.

There is a shady grove facebook group where people sell and donate unused meds. Use at your own risk. You can also use an overseas pharmacy for meds, I understand it is significantly cheaper but takes longer.

[Anonymous]

I’m also disappointed in the lack of coverage. I really don’t understand why even an IUI wouldn’t be covered.
PP how long ago was your treatment at SG when your monitoring was covered?

[Anonymous]

It was in February. I have EOBs that approved the monitoring but not sure if they will stick. I do have secondary insurance coverage through my souse, which will cover the monitoring if carefirst kicks it back.

[Anonymous]

I am also FEd that just finished cycle at shady grove using the Aetna discounted rate. All the diagnostics were covered until the cycle started. Monitoring was covered under the flat rate. I don’t know if the would discount any part of the monitoring after you start stims

It really is awful that no federal insurance plan in dc covers fertility treatments.

[Anonymous]

If one is a Fed, but living in Maryland, is there an option to get insurance via the exchange that would cover ivf?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I'm a fed and have insurance that doesn't cover IVF. My spouse bought insurance off the exchange that covered IVF and covers me as a spouse (as a primary insurance for him and a secondary insurance for me). It's expensive, but less expensive than an IVF cycle. Doing this has worked for me twice, plus i keep my regular federal insurance. If you keep your regular insurance, you can drop the exchange insurance at any time (either when you exhaust ivf coverage or get pregnant).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a fellow fed, I feel very disappointed that we do not have any insurance options that include coverage for ivf. My fed insurance (carefirst) covered all diagnostics at shady grove, so you may want to look into whether or not those are covered. Carefirst also covered all of my monitoring appointments during IVF, which i was surprised about and sort of expect that to be reversed at some point.

There is a shady grove facebook group where people sell and donate unused meds. Use at your own risk. You can also use an overseas pharmacy for meds, I understand it is significantly cheaper but takes longer.

Did CareFirst cover any of your IVF meds?

[Anonymous]

Carefirst does not cover any medications only diagnostics.

[Anonymous]

Can someone provide some details about which Aetna Federal plans qualify for the shady grove IVF flat rate (discount rate)? Is it worth me switching from my Federal BCBS plan (which I've had for 10 years) to Aetna so I can get that discount? There are so many Aetna plans; I don't know which one I should choose. And how much do you save compared to not getting the Aetna discount? Any help is highly appreciated!

Aetna HealthFund HDHP - 22
Aetna HealthFund CDHP and Aetna Value Plan - F5
Aetna HealthFund CDHP and Aetna Value Plan - F5
Aetna Open Access - JN
Aetna Open Access - JN
Aetna Direct - N6 CDHP
Aetna Saver (Open Access) - QQ Saver
Aetna Advantage - Z2

[Anonymous]

I used the Aetna discounted rate with shady grove. As someone said previously, testing was covered until the ivf cycle started and then monitoring was covered under the cycle. It was $7500 with ICSi and meds were probably 3-4000. No meds were covered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I'm a fed and have insurance that doesn't cover IVF. My spouse bought insurance off the exchange that covered IVF and covers me as a spouse (as a primary insurance for him and a secondary insurance for me). It's expensive, but less expensive than an IVF cycle. Doing this has worked for me twice, plus i keep my regular federal insurance. If you keep your regular insurance, you can drop the exchange insurance at any time (either when you exhaust ivf coverage or get pregnant).

What plan do you have? How much research did you do?

[Anonymous]

I used the negotiated rate with the Aetna HDHP.

I got my meds from IVFmeds.com

[Anonymous]

I did this a couple years ago and pretty sure my plan was Aetna Open Access.

[Anonymous]

Does the Aetna discounted rate also work with donor egg plans at Shady Grove?