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The journey to conception is a long, difficult road...
Notice: These articles are protected under copyright law. Please do not copy or distribute.
Copying these articles or placing them on your site is considered copyright infringement. These
articles are for educational purposes only. Click on the title for the full article.
If you are the author of an article on this site and would like it removed, please e-mail me.
Baby or Bust. The article focuses on the finances of a couple, who financed their IVF on a credit
card. The article discusses their financial situation including debt, income, assets and payments. The
costs of fertility treatment is also discussed, including advice on negotiating with health insurance
companies.
The Gift of Life. Article spotlights the From INCIID the Heart program.
In Vitro Fertilization Results May Be Impacted by Insurance. Researchers have shown that women
who live in states that do not mandate insurance coverage for (IVF) are more likely to endure the high-
risk pregnancy.
Why Isn't Infertility Insurance Reimbursement Routinely Offered? Discusses the politics, ethics, and
arguments for infertility insurance.
Babyquest- MSNBC's feature section about the modern pursuit for parenthood. Includes personal
stories, scientific breakthroughs, tutorials, and other articles.
At 39, I Want the Baby Without the Blame.- Poignant article by a Newsweek writer and her
experience with infertility and the stigma involved.
Infertility Treatment Not Covered by Many Employer Health Insurance Plans.- Many employer health
insurance plans do not cover most or all forms of infertility treatment, the AP/Ventura County Star
reports.
Insurance for Infertility Treatment Lags- Discusses the arguments about a National infertility mandate.
UI study suggests more insurance plans could cover infertility treatment costs- Many health insurance
plans could be expanded, at a reasonable cost to subscribers, to cover cost-effective treatments such
as in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples and individuals with infertility, according to a University of
Iowa Health Care study.
Pricey infertility care sparks insurance clash- In most states, such coverage is optional, leaving it up to
the employer to decide. But, for the past decade, advocates have worked state-by-state to pass laws
requiring insurers to cover infertility treatments — with 10 states now requiring some coverage.
Similar proposals are now before Congress.
94% of couples who experience problems having a baby do not get treatment- The newly formed
Assisted Conception Taskforce (ACT), an independent global taskforce of patients and healthcare
professionals, discusses why so few couples utilize infertility services. (Requires Adobe Reader)
The Patient-Friendly IVF Cycle. Alper M.M.& Penzias, A.S. Reproductive Technologies; May2001,
Vol. 10 Issue 3, p122, 4p (Requires Adobe reader)
Abstract: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an involved fertility treatment, which incorporates multiple
steps including injections, blood and ultrasound testing, surgery, and anesthesia. Despite recent
improvements in success, IVF remains underused because of its expense and inconvenience. The
purpose of this report is to review various protocols that reduce expense and increase patient
acceptance of IVF.
Conception Tourism Spreads as Infertility Soars. Couples wanting babies are criss-crossing the globe
in search of treatment as infertility in the developed world looks set to double within a decade,
scientists say.
Insured Women's Access to Infertility Care: How 'Fair' Is It Even With Family Healthcare Insurance?
Study that examines the process of accessing infertility care in the context of an 'equitable opportunity
to do so' (Mithaug, 1996) by comparing two groups of insured women who had 'family insurance
coverage'.
The Fertility Race. NPR series on infertility and insurance issues.
A Rational Basis for the Introduction of Universal Infertility Insurance Coverage. Article by one of the
leading IVF clinics.
Coping with infertility- Discusses reproductive tourism, the financial difficulties of infertility treatment
and the new Connecticut mandate.
Latest on US outsourcing list: Infertility treatment. More cases of reproductive tourism. Its less
expensive to get treatment overseas than in the U.S.
In pursuit of pregnancy. (coping with infertility) Paula Mergenhagen DeWitt.
American Demographics, May 1993 v15 n5 p48(4)
Abstract: The treatment of infertility has become a large business and accounts for $2 billion in total
annual revenues. The National Center for Health Statistics reveals that in 1988, 11% of married
couples, a total of 3.1 million couples, had trouble conceiving or giving birth to a child. Infertility
problems can be attributed to women in 50% of the cases, to men in 40% of the cases and to both in
10% of cases. However, women are the primary recipients of infertility treatments, which range in
price from $4,000 to $11,000 per treatment.
Drive for insurance coverage of infertility treatment raises questions of equity, cost. Adam Sonfeld.
Is infertility a disability? What are the economic and societal costs?
Insurance coverage for infertility treatment. Pamela Prager
Learn to study your plan to reverse claim denials.
Conceiving infertility benefits. John Jesitus.
Managed Healthcare, Nov 2000, Vol. 10, p. 14(9).
Focuses on the issue on who will shoulder the cost of infertility treatments in the United States.
Contents of the report 'Drive for Insurance Coverage Infertility Treatment Raises Questions of
Equity'; Coverage of health insurance; Problems facing medical care organizations.
Cost consideration with infertility treatment: Outcome and cost comparisons between health
maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations care based on physician and facility
cost. Burton VanderLaan, Vishvanath Karande, Carol Krohm, Randy Moss, Donna Pratt, Norbert
Gleicher. (Requires Adobe Reader)
Two teachers suing for infertility coverage. Two St. Charles teachers are challenging a district policy
that excludes infertility treatment from insurance coverage.
Q: Should health insurers be forced to pay for infertility treatments? Diane D. Aronson; Merrill Jr.
Matthews.
Insight on the News, Feb 8, 1999 v15 i5 p24(1)
Abstract: The executive director of Resolve believes that infertility should be covered by medical
insurance since it is a disability like any other. The vice president of domestic policy at the National
Center for Policy Analysis believes that the cost of treating infertile women would be unfairly passed
on all premium-payers.
Infertility RX small part of cost. Dr. William Panak. HMO expenditures for infertility treatments
increased at rates less than the rate of inflation in Massachusetts in the years 1988-1992, and
represented less than 1% of total healthcare costs, experts report. They believe their findings support
the continued health plan coverage of infertility treatments.
Any consumer savings stemming from restrictions on access to infertility treatments "would be small
relative to total premiums," conclude researchers Martha Griffin, a graduate student at the University
of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island, and Dr. William Panak of the University of Northern Iowa
in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Courts disagree on ADA coverage for infertility. (Americans with Disabilities Act) Julie Gannon Shoop.
Trial, Sept 1996 v32 n9 p92(2)
Abstract: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been used to claim employment
discrimination in cases where employers have refused to make accommodations for employees
undergoing infertility treatment and where health insurance did not cover infertility treatment. One
federal court found that reproduction was not a "major life activity" under the ADA, but another
disagreed and found that the ADA was applicable. Federal courts have not yet addressed whether the
ADA can require an employer's health insurance carrier to cover infertility treatments.
Cost-effective infertility care. Norbert Gleicher. An effort made to define the current state of the art
of cost effective infertility care, to suggest steps that can be taken to drive the process forward and to
encourage the introduction of even limited processes to further the concept of outcome dependent
cost assessment within a practice setting. (Requires Adobe Reader)
Financing infertility treatment. Pysche Pascual. Discusses paying for children out of pocket and the
problems with insurance.
The baby makers.
U.S. News & World Report, Nov 11, 1996 v121 n19 p10(2)
Dr. Geoffrey Sher is leading an effort to make the largely unregulated infertility treatment industry
more liable.(Brief Article)
Infertility: a priority reproductive health issue. (Special Article). Johanne Sundby. Sexual Health
Exchange, Spring 2002 v2002 i2 p13(2) A few years ago, a woman in the USA gave birth to
septuplets (seven children). She had been given very potent fertility drugs without even trying to
become pregnant, because her first child had been born after prolonged time to pregnancy--although
no research has shown that prolonged time in one pregnancy leads to prolonged time in the next.
Treating a potential medical problem because of a possible minor inconvenience or emotional burden is
questionable.
Insurance coverage and outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization. Tarun Jain, M.D., Bernard L. Harlow, Ph.
D., & Mark D. Hornstein, M.D. Investigates and compares mandated vs. non-mandated states.
(Requires Adobe Reader)
What price a miracle? Melynda Dovel Wilcox and Josephine Rossi. Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Sept 2002, Vol. 56, p. 116(4). Discusses the cost of in vitro fertilization in the U.S. Success rates of
the procedure; Offer of a shared risk payment approach by infertility clinics which offers a fixed price
for up to three cycles; Criticism that clinics only allow couples with a strong chance of success to use
the payment system; Potential conflicts of interest; Possibility that health insurance will cover part of
the fertility treatments.
Financing infertility. Estimating that infertility mandates will cost $3 per member per year.
Reproductive tourism as mural pluralism in motion. G. Pennings. Discusses how some couples are
travelling from non-mandated to mandated states for infertility treatment. (Requires Adobe Reader)
How Many is Too Many? Lisa Barrett Mann. Washington Post.
Discusses the dangers to multiples following Assisted Reproductive Techniques. "As physician after
physician noted in interviews, if insurance would pay for fertility treatments, prospective parents
could afford to be cautious -- less likely to push to have more embryos transferred or to insist on
going forward with artificial insemination even in a month when it seemed likely that six eggs were
going to be released. "
Public perception on infertility and its treatment: An international survey. Surveyed 8194 adults in 6
countries, including the U.S. and found that only 38% saw infertility as a disease. Also most surveyed
did not know the definition or incidence of infertility, even though half knew someone affected by it.
90% of all polled knew about in vitro fertilization, but less than 25% knew about the chances for
success. 70% of all surveyed agreed that IVF should be reimbursable. (Requires Adobe Reader)
Copying these articles or placing them on your site is considered copyright infringement. These
articles are for educational purposes only. Click on the title for the full article.
If you are the author of an article on this site and would like it removed, please e-mail me.
Baby or Bust. The article focuses on the finances of a couple, who financed their IVF on a credit
card. The article discusses their financial situation including debt, income, assets and payments. The
costs of fertility treatment is also discussed, including advice on negotiating with health insurance
companies.
The Gift of Life. Article spotlights the From INCIID the Heart program.
In Vitro Fertilization Results May Be Impacted by Insurance. Researchers have shown that women
who live in states that do not mandate insurance coverage for (IVF) are more likely to endure the high-
risk pregnancy.
Why Isn't Infertility Insurance Reimbursement Routinely Offered? Discusses the politics, ethics, and
arguments for infertility insurance.
Babyquest- MSNBC's feature section about the modern pursuit for parenthood. Includes personal
stories, scientific breakthroughs, tutorials, and other articles.
At 39, I Want the Baby Without the Blame.- Poignant article by a Newsweek writer and her
experience with infertility and the stigma involved.
Infertility Treatment Not Covered by Many Employer Health Insurance Plans.- Many employer health
insurance plans do not cover most or all forms of infertility treatment, the AP/Ventura County Star
reports.
Insurance for Infertility Treatment Lags- Discusses the arguments about a National infertility mandate.
UI study suggests more insurance plans could cover infertility treatment costs- Many health insurance
plans could be expanded, at a reasonable cost to subscribers, to cover cost-effective treatments such
as in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples and individuals with infertility, according to a University of
Iowa Health Care study.
Pricey infertility care sparks insurance clash- In most states, such coverage is optional, leaving it up to
the employer to decide. But, for the past decade, advocates have worked state-by-state to pass laws
requiring insurers to cover infertility treatments — with 10 states now requiring some coverage.
Similar proposals are now before Congress.
94% of couples who experience problems having a baby do not get treatment- The newly formed
Assisted Conception Taskforce (ACT), an independent global taskforce of patients and healthcare
professionals, discusses why so few couples utilize infertility services. (Requires Adobe Reader)
The Patient-Friendly IVF Cycle. Alper M.M.& Penzias, A.S. Reproductive Technologies; May2001,
Vol. 10 Issue 3, p122, 4p (Requires Adobe reader)
Abstract: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an involved fertility treatment, which incorporates multiple
steps including injections, blood and ultrasound testing, surgery, and anesthesia. Despite recent
improvements in success, IVF remains underused because of its expense and inconvenience. The
purpose of this report is to review various protocols that reduce expense and increase patient
acceptance of IVF.
Conception Tourism Spreads as Infertility Soars. Couples wanting babies are criss-crossing the globe
in search of treatment as infertility in the developed world looks set to double within a decade,
scientists say.
Insured Women's Access to Infertility Care: How 'Fair' Is It Even With Family Healthcare Insurance?
Study that examines the process of accessing infertility care in the context of an 'equitable opportunity
to do so' (Mithaug, 1996) by comparing two groups of insured women who had 'family insurance
coverage'.
The Fertility Race. NPR series on infertility and insurance issues.
A Rational Basis for the Introduction of Universal Infertility Insurance Coverage. Article by one of the
leading IVF clinics.
Coping with infertility- Discusses reproductive tourism, the financial difficulties of infertility treatment
and the new Connecticut mandate.
Latest on US outsourcing list: Infertility treatment. More cases of reproductive tourism. Its less
expensive to get treatment overseas than in the U.S.
In pursuit of pregnancy. (coping with infertility) Paula Mergenhagen DeWitt.
American Demographics, May 1993 v15 n5 p48(4)
Abstract: The treatment of infertility has become a large business and accounts for $2 billion in total
annual revenues. The National Center for Health Statistics reveals that in 1988, 11% of married
couples, a total of 3.1 million couples, had trouble conceiving or giving birth to a child. Infertility
problems can be attributed to women in 50% of the cases, to men in 40% of the cases and to both in
10% of cases. However, women are the primary recipients of infertility treatments, which range in
price from $4,000 to $11,000 per treatment.
Drive for insurance coverage of infertility treatment raises questions of equity, cost. Adam Sonfeld.
Is infertility a disability? What are the economic and societal costs?
Insurance coverage for infertility treatment. Pamela Prager
Learn to study your plan to reverse claim denials.
Conceiving infertility benefits. John Jesitus.
Managed Healthcare, Nov 2000, Vol. 10, p. 14(9).
Focuses on the issue on who will shoulder the cost of infertility treatments in the United States.
Contents of the report 'Drive for Insurance Coverage Infertility Treatment Raises Questions of
Equity'; Coverage of health insurance; Problems facing medical care organizations.
Cost consideration with infertility treatment: Outcome and cost comparisons between health
maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations care based on physician and facility
cost. Burton VanderLaan, Vishvanath Karande, Carol Krohm, Randy Moss, Donna Pratt, Norbert
Gleicher. (Requires Adobe Reader)
Two teachers suing for infertility coverage. Two St. Charles teachers are challenging a district policy
that excludes infertility treatment from insurance coverage.
Q: Should health insurers be forced to pay for infertility treatments? Diane D. Aronson; Merrill Jr.
Matthews.
Insight on the News, Feb 8, 1999 v15 i5 p24(1)
Abstract: The executive director of Resolve believes that infertility should be covered by medical
insurance since it is a disability like any other. The vice president of domestic policy at the National
Center for Policy Analysis believes that the cost of treating infertile women would be unfairly passed
on all premium-payers.
Infertility RX small part of cost. Dr. William Panak. HMO expenditures for infertility treatments
increased at rates less than the rate of inflation in Massachusetts in the years 1988-1992, and
represented less than 1% of total healthcare costs, experts report. They believe their findings support
the continued health plan coverage of infertility treatments.
Any consumer savings stemming from restrictions on access to infertility treatments "would be small
relative to total premiums," conclude researchers Martha Griffin, a graduate student at the University
of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island, and Dr. William Panak of the University of Northern Iowa
in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Courts disagree on ADA coverage for infertility. (Americans with Disabilities Act) Julie Gannon Shoop.
Trial, Sept 1996 v32 n9 p92(2)
Abstract: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been used to claim employment
discrimination in cases where employers have refused to make accommodations for employees
undergoing infertility treatment and where health insurance did not cover infertility treatment. One
federal court found that reproduction was not a "major life activity" under the ADA, but another
disagreed and found that the ADA was applicable. Federal courts have not yet addressed whether the
ADA can require an employer's health insurance carrier to cover infertility treatments.
Cost-effective infertility care. Norbert Gleicher. An effort made to define the current state of the art
of cost effective infertility care, to suggest steps that can be taken to drive the process forward and to
encourage the introduction of even limited processes to further the concept of outcome dependent
cost assessment within a practice setting. (Requires Adobe Reader)
Financing infertility treatment. Pysche Pascual. Discusses paying for children out of pocket and the
problems with insurance.
The baby makers.
U.S. News & World Report, Nov 11, 1996 v121 n19 p10(2)
Dr. Geoffrey Sher is leading an effort to make the largely unregulated infertility treatment industry
more liable.(Brief Article)
Infertility: a priority reproductive health issue. (Special Article). Johanne Sundby. Sexual Health
Exchange, Spring 2002 v2002 i2 p13(2) A few years ago, a woman in the USA gave birth to
septuplets (seven children). She had been given very potent fertility drugs without even trying to
become pregnant, because her first child had been born after prolonged time to pregnancy--although
no research has shown that prolonged time in one pregnancy leads to prolonged time in the next.
Treating a potential medical problem because of a possible minor inconvenience or emotional burden is
questionable.
Insurance coverage and outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization. Tarun Jain, M.D., Bernard L. Harlow, Ph.
D., & Mark D. Hornstein, M.D. Investigates and compares mandated vs. non-mandated states.
(Requires Adobe Reader)
What price a miracle? Melynda Dovel Wilcox and Josephine Rossi. Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Sept 2002, Vol. 56, p. 116(4). Discusses the cost of in vitro fertilization in the U.S. Success rates of
the procedure; Offer of a shared risk payment approach by infertility clinics which offers a fixed price
for up to three cycles; Criticism that clinics only allow couples with a strong chance of success to use
the payment system; Potential conflicts of interest; Possibility that health insurance will cover part of
the fertility treatments.
Financing infertility. Estimating that infertility mandates will cost $3 per member per year.
Reproductive tourism as mural pluralism in motion. G. Pennings. Discusses how some couples are
travelling from non-mandated to mandated states for infertility treatment. (Requires Adobe Reader)
How Many is Too Many? Lisa Barrett Mann. Washington Post.
Discusses the dangers to multiples following Assisted Reproductive Techniques. "As physician after
physician noted in interviews, if insurance would pay for fertility treatments, prospective parents
could afford to be cautious -- less likely to push to have more embryos transferred or to insist on
going forward with artificial insemination even in a month when it seemed likely that six eggs were
going to be released. "
Public perception on infertility and its treatment: An international survey. Surveyed 8194 adults in 6
countries, including the U.S. and found that only 38% saw infertility as a disease. Also most surveyed
did not know the definition or incidence of infertility, even though half knew someone affected by it.
90% of all polled knew about in vitro fertilization, but less than 25% knew about the chances for
success. 70% of all surveyed agreed that IVF should be reimbursable. (Requires Adobe Reader)