Feds' Insurance: Aetna for IVF (negotiated rate) BCBS for birth?

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere that for feds doing IVF, Aetna has the best deal for the IVF bc of the negotiated rate and then if you switch to BCBS they fully cover childbirth.

Is this true?

I suck at reading the insurance paperwork.

[Anonymous]

I think that’s only at certain clinics though…

[Anonymous]

Is Shady Grove one of the clinics? If anyone has done this recently, could you please share what the negotiated rates were, particularly for a FET? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Is federal BCBS understood to be the best policy for childbirth? I’ll be delivering twins this winter and am preparing for a double NICU stay, so curious to know more about this!

[Anonymous]

OP here - I just used the Aetna negotiated rate with SGF. I did one cycle. I paid $6,300 for the IVF process. $750 for PGT-A biopsy and $2100 for the analysis. $1500 for freezing the embryos.

Total IVF cost + PGT-A Program + Cryopreservation: $10,650 Total $9,150 payable to SGF $1,500 payable to Embryo Options.
FET: 1,850 for one cycle.

I read on this forum that BCBS is good for feds for birth. I am really curious to know more.

[Anonymous]

I've given birth with Aetna open access and BCBS. Both at GW. I didn't pay anything for the Aetna delivery. BCBS was $250.

[Anonymous]

Fed bcbs here. Fully covered birth including C-section and hospital stay. No IVF coverage. Didn't try Aetna

[Anonymous]

Thank you, this is really helpful! Does this apply to any of the fed Aetna plans, or just a particular one?

[Anonymous]

OP again: Mine is the Aetna HDHP PPO. Got the rate. I would think it’s all Aetna plans though.

[Anonymous]

I used Aetna for the negotiated rate in 2019 and then switched to BCBS for the birth last year.
In 2020, Aetna did not cover the cost of the birth fully while BCBS did.

but this can change so please check!