From reading the posts, I see if I get my meds with current BCBS plan, I should choose Aetna Open choice since I will not care for the cost of meds, but it will give me access to the other doctors without the referals. What do you think?

which plan are you choosing this coming year?

I did cycles with both aetna 2009 and mdipa 2010. the drug cost is a huge difference for me 3500 v. 150. That said, i had to start and stop twice during aetna to switch protocols and both times because i had not made it to retrieval it did not "count" for purposes of the 3 times maximum with aetna. I still had to pay a prorated fee to the RE for the visits I went to, but with MDIPA, each time I started the drugs were considered a cycle.
By the time i used mdipa, i knew what was going to work so it was less risky. You need to weigh the pros and cons.

One pp mentioned that in 2011, bcbs would charge a co-pay for ultrasounds (I'm assuming PP was referring to the PPO plan, not the HMO). Fwiw, that change only applies to the basic option, as there is no additional co-pay for ultrasounds under the standard option.

Wrt, PPO vs. HMO (under BCBS) - has anyone tried the HMO and been unhappy with it? Just wondering whether it might be worth it to switch from PPO to HMO to get IUI (and meds) covered. Thanks!

CareFirst BlueChoice is BCBS in DC. I did just check out the plan details for BlueChoice on the website below, and if you open the 2011 Plan Information Booklet (scroll down and open the PDF) - it says on the chart on page 7, that IN-NETWORK you pay: Artificial Insemination $25 PCP / $35 Specialist. Sounds like it is covered!

Since I don't know the names of the drugs used, I can't figure out what drugs are now covered under the 2011 plan for CareFirst. If anyone knows that info would be helpful.

here: http://www.carefirst.com/fedhmo/PlanDescriptions/PlanDescriptionsLanding.html.

It's not BCBS for federal employees, it's CareFirst BlueChoice HMO for federal employees--they're two entirely different plans.

PP -- where in your BCBS Federal employee brochure does it say IUI is covered???

12:10 -- I'm speaking specifically about CareFirst BlueChoice for Federal employees. As per their current brochure, IUI is covered, as are any fertility drugs used with IUI (including injectables).

PP I think it depends on the agreement Carefirst BCBC has with the particular subscriber. We just had our first IUI 7 days ago and nothing was covered. I do have a friend though that has the same insurance and with her subscriber it was covered.

I think CareFirst BlueChoice fully covers IUI--at least they did last year. No IVF though.

Anonymous wrote:For timed intercourse I would think it is covered b/c the language says:
Not covered:
• Drugs used in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures

Timed intercourse isn't an ART -- so I'd think it would be covered. IUI -- no.

Hi there,
I'm reading these posts looking to change insurance to one that will cover some of my IUI costs next year. When I saw your post, I thought I should let you know my experience with NALC last year. The brochure has that same language about no costs being covered if they are associated with ART. I took that to mean that IUI would be covered. Not true -- they consider it ART. I went round and round with the rep trying to argue it, then talked to her supervisor. She said I'd need to write a letter to the CEO if I wanted to contest.

I'm not sure if other insurances will read it differently, but my guess not.

oops. sorry.

Actually, it's male factor infertility.

or to be more concise "male fertility issues"

male infertility