Anonymous wrote:

Love Katherine, hate Melissa--she's clueless and insensitive.

Katherine does painless blood draws and "gets" it. Kind and compassionate.

Melissa is gone, FYI.

OP: if you have no coverage, it would be worth seeing if you qualify for donated meds. If our cycle is successful, we will definitely donate our meds back to GW so those without the means can use them. I know many people do this for their treatment, and it might be of some help (every bit can help).

how is this your fault, OP!?
sounds horrible - I'm so sorry you had to go through this.

Agree with the "sh!t we have to go through". It's a pretty painful procedure, even if quick. However, they do "map" the way for the ER and ET and are somewhat important.

I definitely think taking pain meds (however strong) is helpful - I forgot, and wasn't pleased.

I hope you're OK, OP

I didn't know GW has shared risk but that's good to know

Good luck, op!

Anonymous wrote:GW is always willing to work with you on cost and their financial guy is great. I would recommend Dr Frankfurter and they are right across from Foggy Bottom metro.

I agree in that Brian, their financial guy, is amazing. We have insurance and our share of ivf w/ ICSI is about $5500 not including embryo freezing if we are fortunate enough to have extras.

I don't know what the rate wold be without coverage but they ate very open and straightforward with that aspect. Also, they put us on a payment plan (we paid 50% and have 6 months to pay the rest, u less we need another cycle right away....we have to have zero balance to do a other round...hopefully we won't but I understand that policy). Hope that helps

I received a mailing from a group called "Optum" telling me that a Reproductive Resources Specialist has been trying to contact me regarding my infertility treatment (thanks for labeling me, people who don't know me).

I've never heard of this group, and my health insurance company has no idea what I was talking about. I suspect that once MD IPA approved the cycle, they sold my info and that's who it is....but I don't want to ignore this if it's legitimate. It SEEMS to be a business optimization company (how to make the most money), as their web site says a lot about the cost of having twins because of a multiple embryo transfer.

Has anyone else received such a thing or know what this is?

If it's any comfort, you aren't alone (I know that's a comfort to me when I get all flustered).

Best of luck

The underlying issue is that health insurance companies are there to make money, and they don't really care about the kind of care you do or don't receive.

It's great that your employer was willing to hear you on this, but I think the best way forward might be a clinic with a guarantee program.

I have insurance coverage, and while it's a blessing...it's definitely a mixed blessing because the stress of having to deal with the insurance company is its own cycle. It's probably easier (yet painful) to pay for your own and consider the tax write off for your medical expenses.

With MD IPA, they are not covering my Lupron (I am a lupron trigger because my RE worries about OHSS...MFI case). They will not cover Lupron for a trigger and Freedom said that since the start of the year, they have had a lot of issues with coverage for Lupron (which was $199, FYI).

While it's great to have some coverage, I think there are intentionally so many hoops to go through that they hope you just give up and pay OOP for most things. At a certain point, what's the point of covering IVF if you aren't going to do it right? And by right I mean realizing the different and time sensitive nature of the process.

Anonymous wrote:I am a fed with only 50% coverage. Insurance denied me for high fsh 17.1 (need 17 for coverage) so I am 100% out of pocket.

I see. That is horrible.
Yes, 50% coverage here too obviously and the $5k without drugs for my share is hard to swallow (Especially with pay freezes and possible furloughs) but I am very grateful to have something. I was shocked to learn tricare covers nada either. Well, more disappointed than shocked. I am rarely shocked at insurance programs at this point

Anonymous wrote:I was excluded b/c our insurance is through the feds too. so ridiculously unfair. Montgomery County.

I am a fed but have coverage...why the disparity for you?

That said, I 110% support equity in coverage. We are an mfi case and should it be the case we need donor sperm, we wouldn't be covered. I wish you luck...this is an important issue.

I just started stims last night, so feel free to send me a note! Best of luck....this is the hardest thing I have ever done emotionally

Anonymous wrote:dildo cams.

love that!

I don't know of one specifically but I think any that does PGD would be able to assist? I know GW does it, but I haven't been to any other office to know if they do - but it's a popular aspect of fertility so I'm sure they do.

good luck!

What if the man is the fertility patient? We are an MFI case and if my husband wants to be there every step of the way (out of guilt? Support) I don't think you should worry yourselves. He isn't thinking about you, and it is pretty weird to think he is somehow infringing on your rights. He is a patient too. But, he won't be there because he has to save every hour of leave for paternity leave (we hope sooner rather than later). Rude people in a waiting room are one thing, but don't begrudge a woman her support system - not everyone has a mom or female friend to be there.
To me, the IF community needs to be supportive than just online. Men are a part of IF and suffer emotionally too.

I start stims tomorrow night....so tomorrow I see my trainer and am going to try to go to step (if the city calms down a bit). I also have step Tuesday - I figured that my first day after first stim shot I would be ok for cardio. My nurse said twisting/crunching and lifting heavy are discouraged. I didn't want to do these things and have the cycle fail and wonder if that was why. So I will be walking on the treadmill, walking my dog and maybe elliptical.

For food, I am going to increase protein and reduce carbs (as a vegetarian a lot of my proteins are carbs so I am adding chicken and more eggs).

The advantage of this will be more time - I work out after work every night and usually don't get home until 7:15, then cook/clean and am exhausted by the time I hit my bed. I am going to try to use this time to try to relax. I'll walk at the gym, then walk my dog with my husband and try to do things after work that I haven't been able to do for a long time. I am hoping it won't make me fester about the cycle! But I am trying to stay positive and relaxed and let science work.

And trying not to think about my soon to give birth smug sister in law