Leading Patient Advocacy Group Reports Nearly 50% of People With Infertility Have Health Insurance That Excludes Coverage for Infertility
Boston, MA (PRWEB) October 15, 2013 -- In 2013, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association surveyed more than 1600 women and men diagnosed with infertility, revealing that 46% of people surveyed have insurance coverage but their plans do not cover infertility treatments, and an additional 15% have plans that cover less than 25% of infertility treatment costs.
“Survey after survey demonstrates, and our long experience supporting patients confirms it, that the out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatments are the greatest barrier to accessing care or continuing with a course of treatment,” said Barbara Collura, President/CEO for RESOLVE. “This adds a tremendous burden to an already life-altering diagnosis of infertility.”
In order to bring financial relief to couples who are diagnosed with infertility and need IVF to build their family, RESOLVE is urging the patient and medical communities to call upon Congress to pass the aptly named Family Act, S 881/HR 1851. The Family Act is a federal bill which will create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation after a cancer diagnosis.
This important call to action took place during a briefing at the 69th Annual Meeting for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Boston, MA.
At the briefing, Dr. Michael Alper shared his experience as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Medical Director for Boston IVF, helping patients navigate their family building journey. Massachusetts received top ranking in the 2013 Fertility Scorecard released by RESOLVE and EMD Serono, partly because of its insurance mandate to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Dr. Alper has also practiced medicine in Indiana and Maine, states without mandates. “The contrast is unbelievable. From the physicians point of view you are powerless because you want to help people treat their disease and you can’t because of the financial barrier for so many.”
RESOLVE New England’s Executive Director, Erin Lasker was also on hand to dispel the myth that all people in Massachusetts are covered by the mandate. “We get calls from Massachusetts residents every day who are not covered by the mandate and it’s much harder for them to navigate their family building journey. We continue to work with our state legislators to ensure the current mandate stays in place. And we will also ask our Member of Congress to support the Family Act so more people living with infertility will receive access to the medical treatment they need.”
Collura ended the briefing with an important call to action, “The Family Act is important to people diagnosed with infertility and those that want to preserve their fertility after being diagnosed with cancer. Doctors, patients, and the entire infertility community need to ask their elected officials to support this legislation.”
One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. For more information on infertility and the Family Act, visit http://www.resolve.org/taxcredit or http://www.resolve.org.
About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family building options. For more information, visit http://www.RESOLVE.org.
Diana Cummins, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 703.556.7172, [email protected]
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