From Midwest Resolve
COME TALK WITH LEGISLATORS...
Legislative Forum on Infertility and Insurance Coverage
Please come and lend support, listen to legislators, ask questions and
share information regarding insurance coverage and infertility.
Three separate panel discussions with legislators to talk about the issues of expanded insurance coverage for infertility will be held at:
October 10, 2007 7:00pm-8:30pm
Minnetonka Community Center
14600 Minnetonka Blvd.
Minnetonka, MN 55345
October 16th 7:00pm-8:30pm
Roseville Civic Center
2660 Civic Center Dr.
Roseville, MN 55113
October 24, 2007 7:00pm-8:30pm
Kelly Inn St. Paul
161 St. Anthony Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103
Infertility is a medically recognized disease that affects men and women equally. It is defined as the inability to conceive or retain a pregnancy during a one-year period (6 months for a woman 35 years of age or older). According to the CDC, 1 in 8 couples of reproductive age are affected by infertility. When treated correctly, infertility has one of the highest rates of success of any disease - more than 80% of couples who complete treatment will succeed in having a biological child. Often patients select treatment based on what is covered by their insurance plan rather than what is most appropriate, forcing many people to have less effective but covered treatments such as surgeries for blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis rather than pursuing in-vitro (IVF) fertilization, a non covered service, even though the cost is about the same and IVF is statistically more likely to result in a successful pregnancy. States with insurance coverage for infertility report a decrease in health care costs. Incidences of high order multiple births is decreased. Healthier pregnancies and babies are the result. Currently 15 states have infertility coverage as a required benefit within their policies. We would like to make Minnesota the 16th state that requires this beneficial coverage included in health care plans.
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3 comments:
Hey this is great news! If I'm in town I'll try to make the one in Roseville...it is very close to where I live!
Great! If you go, could you please address my pet peeve that infertility is not the real disease? it's the product of various diseases?? I know it's the only way "fertiles" get it, but I feel like it makes it harder for them to understand that there are medical conditions that cause these problems and that can cause health problems as well! (thus helping to push the ins. coverage issue). I mean.. why wouldn't you get help with endometriosis or pcos? you know what I mean? Just one of my rants. :)
Wow! I wish that I lived in your area. I need to google this and see if I can find similar events in my area. Thanks for the post.
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