IVF is an increasingly popular fertility treatment for couples with infertility. It involves the fertilization of eggs in a lab, which are then transferred to the woman’s womb. But what is IVF insurance?
IVF costs can range from $10,000 to $20,000 or more per try. For this reason, many people are deciding to pay up front with cash or credit cards, rather than with their insurance. The problem is that many people don’t know whether they have coverage for IVF or not. This article will explain how you can find out if your health plan covers IVF and what you need to do if they don’t.
What is IVF insurance?
IVF insurance is coverage that pays for IVF treatments. Insurance companies are required to cover preventative care, so it’s possible that your plan covers IVF if you have insurance.
If you don’t have an insurance company, but your spouse does, you might be able to get coverage through their plan.
Some people think they need to buy an IVF insurance policy in order to get the treatment covered by the company. This is not true! You can find out whether or not IVF is covered by checking your benefits with your employer or insurance company.
The different types of insurance that cover IVF
If your insurance company covers IVF, it will be listed on your Certificate of Coverage. You can call them or go online to find out if they offer this service.
There are different types of insurance that cover IVF treatment. Some offer coverage for IVF as part of their general benefits, but others require you to buy this type of coverage separately.
The most common type is an HMO. It’s a plan where you have to see a primary care physician first before going to other specialists like an OB/GYN or fertility specialist. If you want IVF coverage from your HMO, make sure it’s included in the plan you choose when signing up for the health care provider.
Another type is a PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization. This plan gives you more flexibility and lets you go straight to specialists without going through a primary care physician first.
How to find out if your health plan covers IVF
Your insurance provider might have a page that explains what they cover and what they don’t. You can search the page for the words IVF or in vitro fertilization. Your health insurance company may also provide a list of all their covered procedures, which you can find by looking on their website.
If your plan doesn’t specifically mention IVF coverage, it’s time to call your insurance company. You can ask them: “Does my health plan cover IVF?”
You’ll need to provide some information about how much coverage you want and any costs you’re willing to pay out-of-pocket before they’ll know whether you’re eligible for reimbursement. However, if they say your plan doesn’t cover IVF, there’s still hope!
What you need to do if they don’t cover IVF
If your health plan doesn’t cover IVF, you’ll need to either pay for the procedure out-of-pocket or try to get it covered by your spouse’s employer.
Typically, if a plan excludes IVF coverage, you won’t be able to claim it as a medical expense with your tax return. However, there are exceptions.
If you’re not sure whether IVF is already included in your plan’s coverage, contact your employer or insurance provider and ask them to clarify what they do cover. If they don’t cover IVF, you’ll need to either pay up front for the procedure or try getting it covered by your spouse’s insurance at work.
Conclusion
When it comes to IVF, the first thing you want to do is to find out if your insurance covers it. You can typically find this information on your health plan’s website or by calling their customer service phone number. If you find that they don’t cover IVF, you can always look into a supplemental plan.