You're wrong. First insurers offer plans and it is employers who pick those plans. If employers want to save $$ they just do not cover infertility at all. The MD mandate was the legislature's act and it was a compromise. The religious nuts in office would only let it go thru if it excluded what it excludes.

I don't think its the Uber conservatives making this an obstacle for single people, it's that insurance wants a reason to deny everyone. I'm married, been trying for over 3 years, have a known infertility issue and we still have no coverage. Our insurance covered some diagnostic tests but ZERO treatment.

Under the MD mandate, you have to be spouses. Ok singles are screwed but gays now can fall into that. But in addition to using the word spouse, it says it has to be the spouses egg. So all donor eggs are screwed right there. Lesbians are still in the mix. But it says it has to be the other spouse's sperm. So lesbians get screwed on that and same with married couples with male factor. I'd like to argue that it is my sperm because guess what I'm the lawful owner of it. I bought it.

It's so disheartening that a law based on a compromise to appease a few religious nuts and uber Republicans in the MD General Assembly is impacting so many lives negatively whereas giving a life changing benefit to others. It's heartbreaking really. Think of all the couples that had to walk away after 1 or 2 IUIs and give up the dream of a family.

Personally I have spent over $40k. Had the mandate helped me I would have spent a fraction of that. I'm lucky I had the money but infuriated that it could have gone to college education and that others get when I do not and FOR WHAT REASON??

Yes, in MD the law requires coverage, but only for married couples. When I went through IVF as a single woman I did consider challenging it, particularly after I was diagnosed with blocked tubes and PCOS, which were clearly medical conditions leading to my need for IVF. I worked for the fed. govt at the time and it clearly seemed as though I was receiving a different level of coverage, at the same cost, based solely on my marital status. Seems like discrimination to me.

Yes, in MD the law requires coverage, but only for married couples. When I went through IVF as a single woman I did consider challenging it, particularly after I was diagnosed with blocked tubes and PCOS, which were clearly medical conditions leading to my need for IVF. I worked for the fed. govt at the time and it clearly seemed as though I was receiving a different level of coverage, at the same cost, based solely on my marital status. Seems like discrimination to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you limiting your plea?

Why should the rules be different for getting coverage for donor sperm than donor eggs?

Also, while I can see why an insurance company may not pay for the cost of obtaining the sperm, why would that impact on their need to pay for all other aspects of the IUI / IVF process?

Out insurance would not pay for the costs associated with obtaining the donor egg, but paid for everything else associated with the IVF cycle.

Wow, you have incredible insurance. I couldn't even get mine to pay for treatment with my own eggs.

Are you in Md? I thought Md law required coverage -- though I do recall that we had to get the doctor to certify that we were married and had tried for a year without success before the coverage would kick in. Is the issue that a single woman or same sex couple can't get over that hurdle because of the "marriage" issue? Because that would be wrong. I'd sign-on to something to get that changed.

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you limiting your plea?

Why should the rules be different for getting coverage for donor sperm than donor eggs?

Also, while I can see why an insurance company may not pay for the cost of obtaining the sperm, why would that impact on their need to pay for all other aspects of the IUI / IVF process?

Out insurance would not pay for the costs associated with obtaining the donor egg, but paid for everything else associated with the IVF cycle.

Wow, you have incredible insurance. I couldn't even get mine to pay for treatment with my own eggs.

OP here and omg I totally agree. Donor egg should be included as well 100%. I should have added that. The Maryland mandate says, I believe, it has to be their own egg.

No complaints here about paying costs for donor sperm and egg, but I want the darn fertility procedures covered.

OP, why are you limiting your plea?

Why should the rules be different for getting coverage for donor sperm than donor eggs?

Also, while I can see why an insurance company may not pay for the cost of obtaining the sperm, why would that impact on their need to pay for all other aspects of the IUI / IVF process?

Out insurance would not pay for the costs associated with obtaining the donor egg, but paid for everything else associated with the IVF cycle.

We had no such luck. Denied for use of donor sperm.

Anonymous wrote:I've been very fortunate. I'm single and even though my insurance policy specifically states that you need to be married to get coverage, so far my 5 IUI's have been covered (I work for a public school system). My clinic submitted everything for me and it was covered no problem. Many people call and ask their insurance about coverage but don't actually submit (or appeal when denied). My nurse said that she is seeing a little more coverage as some insurances are seeing more cases of single/lesbian/male factor, etc. However, I know most of my friends haven't had that same luck and it is truly unfair.

Would you share your insurance plan?

I've been very fortunate. I'm single and even though my insurance policy specifically states that you need to be married to get coverage, so far my 5 IUI's have been covered (I work for a public school system). My clinic submitted everything for me and it was covered no problem. Many people call and ask their insurance about coverage but don't actually submit (or appeal when denied). My nurse said that she is seeing a little more coverage as some insurances are seeing more cases of single/lesbian/male factor, etc. However, I know most of my friends haven't had that same luck and it is truly unfair.

I feel you. I helped a friend challenge this in her NoVa town (she was a public employee) and I believe they changed the rule in response. So it's possible. Glad you tried. May have chipped away at them a little.

I've probably spent $40k plus (I'm too scared to actually do a tally), all of which would have been covered. Infuriating.

I tried. Work for local gov and was basically tool tough s#it until a marriage ruling comes down. Shelled out over 20k for treatments that should have been covered.

If your insurance company does not cover your fertility procedures due to your use of donor sperm but it covers the procedures of married straight couples using the husband's sperm, please please please complain to your employer and make a direct demand for them to change their policy and coverage to not exclude you and your class of people. We are complaining to our public school system (employer) and are raising up the chain there until we get to the top. We need everyone to not just sit and be quietly impacted and distraught, but to raise this issue directly to our employers as unfair and discriminatory and tell them that our colleagues are getting a benefit worth tens of thousands of dollars whereas we are not, yet we sit in the next office and do the same jobs. This benefit, because it is so valuable, is directly enabling a certain few to live their dream and create a family. On the other hand, lack of the benefit is causing others to get in financial jeopardy or, worse yet, have to forego the dream of having a family.

Go complain along with us! Please! We have to speak up and challenge the system. It is so unfair and so impactful.