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H.R. 2892, The Family Building Act of 2007 (114 comments ↓ | 3 wiki edits)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 2892 would amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and title 10, United States Code, to require coverage for the treatment of infertility.
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Support
November 26, 2007, 3:19pm (report abuse)Mental conditions (depression, multiple personalities, etc. etc.) are treated and covered by insurance companies; so to say that infertility is a state of mind and therefore should not be covered is rediculous. Insurance will pay for Viagra, all forms of birth control, sterrilization procedures, and abortions. Insurance companies also need to help loving, caring families expand. This is a no-brainer. This needs to pass.
Lynn
November 30, 2007, 6:39pm (report abuse)When people tell me what my sister is doing is messing with nature I want to slap them. Why do people like Britny Spears get to be a mother and that horrible couple who turned out to be the parents of Riley aka Baby Grace here in texas!
Gina
December 6, 2007, 10:55am (report abuse)If I am paying for insurance for people to smoke and get lung cancer, participate in extreme sports and end up traction with years of expensive rehabilitation to follow, why can't fertility treatments be covered? It's not a matter of blaming corporations for pollution or those woman who choose to wait until they find the right partner versus ending up a single young mom on welfare. It's about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what being an American is all about. Why should we should exclude infertiles the liberty of being able to pursue their happiness - a life that includes a family?
Marie
December 6, 2007, 11:00am (report abuse)Keep in mind folks that insurance companies do not pay the same for treatments that infertiles pay out of pocket. A standard IVF cycle costs $15-20k out of pocket. The insurance companies pay around $5k for the same service. Is this fair? If we can't get this law passed, maybe we should look at the REs who are taking advantage of the lack of insurance coverage and mandate laws and look to regulate the ART industry instead. I wouldn't be surprised if it the REs, along with insurance companies, who are fighting to keep this bill being passed into law. They certainly stand to make a lot less money or actually, work about 3 times as hard to get the same amount of money.
Marie
December 6, 2007, 11:15am (report abuse)Cost of fertility coverage = $5k to the insurance company for an IVF cycle. Couples without coverage make financially based decisions instead of medically based. Opt to have expensive tubal surgery at a cost of $8k to the insurance companies. Those that do pay out of pocket the CHANCE of having a live baby are more apt to end up with high order multiples to get "more bang for their buck." The cost of the pregnancy due to complications, premature births and babies spending months in NICUs - nevermind the endless years of medical care due to disabilities resulting from all of it.
Wanna argue about insurance premiums now? A study has been done in states that mandate coverage and it shows that premiums have NOT gone up due to fertility coverage.
Andi
January 11, 2008, 1:53pm (report abuse)I have spent thousands so far on infertility treatments, six years and eight cycles, and no success yet. Need to move to IVF to have even a 25% chance of a pregnancy. Clinic will charge $10k per IVF cycle. Infertility is caused by many very real diseases that require medical treatment. PLEASE mandate infertility coverage for those that are unable to conceive.
Camille
January 14, 2008, 3:17pm (report abuse)Until you suffer from this
"disease" you cannot truly understand what it is like to be faced with never knowing if you will have a child and a family of your own. Infertility is difficult enough without the additional burden of not being able to afford treatment for it. Infertility is the wave of the 21st century and it is time that the goverment require insurance companies to provide coverage for these procedures.
Cristye Brown
January 22, 2008, 8:58pm (report abuse)Please Please support this bill, if we can spend millions of dollars on worthless stuff and helping other countries we can for sure help the people in this country to acheive what should be already a given, to have a child. It is a disease just like any other disease that hinders thousands of Americans each year. We have military insurance and are able to go to Walter Reed where its discounted but still expensive..please pass this bill and help us in the fight to stamp out infertility..
Annette Abbeywood
January 22, 2008, 9:03pm (report abuse)Elizabeth you are so wrong, I have endometerious and have to live on pain meds pretty much everyday I cannot work I cannot go to school anymore because somedays are so bad I have to stay in bed. I have had many doctors tell me getting pg would help my pain. It's either that or getting everything removed. Im 27 years old and am not ready to go through menopause. So this for me is medically necessary since ive already lost both fallopian tubes to this illness. You cannot truely compare people like us to smokers who take their lives into their own hands. You are heartless. Please pass this bill!!!
Dana
February 1, 2008, 9:07am (report abuse)Infertility is a disease. Why should Americans be forced to go into debt for the chance to be a parent? I am considering IVF and wonder if I will be able to support a child after my husband and I put ourselves into serious debt to create that child. Please pass this bill that will allow millions of Americans to fulfill their dreams of becoming parents.
Amy
February 7, 2008, 7:32pm (report abuse)Let's see insurance companies pay for fertility coverage and no longer cover medically unncecessary abortions. Currently, our nation is growing from immigration not procreation.
Chari
February 18, 2008, 7:02pm (report abuse)Please support this bill, Ifertility is a disease... It's time for Insurance companies to pay for all infertility treatment.....
Cathy R.
February 22, 2008, 6:40pm (report abuse)I believe that we are not allowing good parents the right to have children because of a disease that robs them of their joy. Please pass this bill!!!!!
Debra
February 25, 2008, 8:18am (report abuse)If we have to pay high dollars for insurance coverage, then the insurance companies should pay for medical help. Infertility is a disease and insurance companies should pay a portion of the medical cost that will help fight this disease.
Flora Rosa
February 25, 2008, 2:33pm (report abuse)Please, please pass this bill, my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for the past five years. After inseminations and IVF we are almost ready to give up our dream of conceving a child. Infertility brings a lot of sadness to a marriage. The treatments for infertility cannot be considered a "luxury" treatment. We did not bring this to ourselves, we are healthy, hard working individuals who deserve a chance to parenthood.
Diane
February 26, 2008, 8:07pm (report abuse)Support this bill. Require coverage for infertility.
Stephanie
February 28, 2008, 12:26am (report abuse)Please support this bill. It's important to those of us who have experienced infertility firsthand. It's a shame that we had to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket. I don't know why it's not considered a medical condition, it should be!
M
March 1, 2008, 7:31am (report abuse)I have read many of the comments and have seen many say, that adoption is too expensive. My husband and I did a private adoption 3 years ago and the cost was about 12 thousand. I support the bill to have insurance cover infertility costs. For those interested in adoption, look into private adoption, there is an organization in DC that helps with private adoptions,Families for Private Adoptions. Adoption is a wonderful thing. I was very angry to read Elizabeth's comment of "someone's leftover's". Maybe you should read up on adoption and see what a wonderful option it is for couples unable to have a biological child!
FJL54
March 2, 2008, 12:14pm (report abuse)1. It will give the insurance companies another reason to raise everyones rates.
2. Such treatment should not be so costly to begin with.
3. With the government causing so many divorces in this country we already have over 1 million children each year who lose one of their parents due to divorce. Children deserve both parents and you should think really hard about bringing a child into this world who will have a 55% chance of having his/her world destroyed from divorce. Divorce is very painful and damaging to children so, before you take the plunge, please parents, sit down and pledge that you will give you child equal time with his.her parent should a divorce occur. Equal shared parenting has been proven to be more nurturing and stable for children of divorce.
I do supporr this bill though since I have faith in most parents and that they will do the right hing by their children.
PANTHER75
March 20, 2008, 10:47am (report abuse)THIS BILL IS A GREAT THING FOR THOSE INFERTILS THAT ARE COVERED BY A POLICY WITH 50 OR MORE PEOPLE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US WE JUST REMAIN CHILDLESS?
Tracy
March 23, 2008, 7:40pm (report abuse)I too encourage support for this bill to pass. Not all of us that need IVF do so because they have unknown infertility issues. While I am young and able to have children, after 4 emergency surgeries, I no longer have the ability to do this without IVF.
I would imagine FJL54 that any couples who have to go through this much to have a child want them more than anything and that is a great place to start.
Barb
April 15, 2008, 10:22am (report abuse)Hi - On April 10 RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association sponsored an advocacy day in Washington DC. Close to 100 people came from all over the US to meet with their elected officials to support HR 2892. Based on our meetings, we got additional co-sponsors! Visit www.resolve.org for more info.
Jean
April 30, 2008, 9:28pm (report abuse)Insurance companies view infertility tx as elective procedures. Why? So they don't have to pay. Tell ya what, my infertility is not a CHOICE! Everyday I see children that are in abusive homes. Our government will PAY to keep those families together. I would NEVER harm a child, but can not conceive without IVF. Why won't they step in and force the insurance companies to step up?
They pay for abortions
They pay for AA
They pay for NA
They won't pay for infertility Tx
Please support this bill. The passage may come too late for me, but not for the thousands of others that share this condition.
Jana
May 28, 2008, 3:26pm (report abuse)Bottom line is this...insurance should cover treatments for disease and infertility is a disease. If we all just paid our own way than we would have no purpose for insurance in the first place! Did you know that in states with mandated coverage there are fewer multiples born and health problems due to multiples cost insurance companies alot more money! If you truly want to know accurate information visit resolve.org.
Shannon
June 23, 2008, 1:43pm (report abuse)Please - Please support this bill. As a female inflicted with this disease, I know first hand the financial an emotional toll this takes on those who are impacted. Insurance companies should cover treatment it is a disease and not an elective surgery as many have stated. We did not ask for this condition it is the hand that was given to us. Why should we be punished financially for wanting a family!
Beth
June 24, 2008, 8:53pm (report abuse)SPEAK OUT! Leaving comments on here is great and all but we need to do more! Do your research, see whats next for this bill, contact whoever you can in your state and local government and see if we can get anywhere with this. I'm doing all that stuff now so I will come back and let you know what I find and what we can do... We need to start being PROACTIVE and not REACTIVE.
E&A
July 10, 2008, 3:27pm (report abuse)One simply cannot understand the depths of infertility until the pain is felt first hand. Infertility feels like your children are lost and are begging you to find them, but you just can't. Unfortunately, most people see it as Elizabeth does, because they are ignorant of the pain.
TC
July 29, 2008, 1:51pm (report abuse)Please support this bill. After years of trying to create a family, we are now faced with the very realy possibility of never having the oportunity to have a child, because our insurance does no cover infertility. Infertility is devastating. As a child I group up knowing I would want a family of my own, and now I live on the hopes and prayers that one day Infertility Treatment will be available through all insurances. Until then my sorrow continues,and all because of an insurance company. Please understand that infertility is a disease that affect your body, mind and soul. Please support this bill.
Amanda
July 29, 2008, 4:13pm (report abuse)I have had unexplained infertility for nearly 3 years. I had a costly surgery that was covered by my insurance (to diagnose endometriosis) because my doctor couldn't dertermine why I was in pain and having infertility issues. I didn't have endometriosis, and my artery was hit in the surgery. I spent 5 days in the hospital and about $60,000 through my insurance. It would have been easier for everyone had I just had IVF, but I didn't have $10K out of pocket to pay for that. I almost bled to death, and nearly lost my life just trying to bring another life into the world. This should never happen to anyone else.
Alana
July 29, 2008, 7:52pm (report abuse)This bill should pass! For most of us dealing with infertility, a medical cause is to blame. It is unfair that any other disease treatment is covered, but not infertility. Having children is a legitimate biological desire of many couples - those who claim it "optional" obviously have never dealt with infertility. The costs of ART are huge...I would be grateful for any help from my insurance company. If they agreed to pay even half, for up to a limited number of treatments, it would make treatment so much more affordable for us in the middle class. I almost feel like we are singled out, and punished, for the nature of our disease. Passage of this bill would provide hope for so many couples out there.
JC
August 20, 2008, 1:32am (report abuse)This bill should pass! None of us chose to be infertile. It is definitely a health issue. I believe diagnostic/tests and treatments should be covered. At least pay half because infertility treatments and office visits really take a toll on your household income. I am living pay check to pay check. I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility and have been dealing with this issue for 3 yrs! Luckily the first two years infertility was covered by my company but this past April 2008, my companyd decided to end infertility coverage. My husband and I are struggling financially due to this.
Please pass this bill!!!!
j m
September 7, 2008, 4:28am (report abuse)you are so lucky to live in a country that is even considerind doing such thing.in my country infertility treatment is considered as a luxury because there re loads of docters like elizabeth s father that are building their fortunes on us poor souls.elizabeth you were lucky but your kids may be not, think about! it
Beth
October 6, 2008, 1:44pm (report abuse)j m
This is a luxury here... This bill isn't going anywhere. It is sitting somewhere in a huge pile of other bills waiting for some kind of approval to be sent back to Congress to vote on. This happens a lot and most of the time... they just sit there and never looked at eventually thrown away and forgotten about. It was last looked at in 2007.
My issue is why do I have to pay for someone to kill a baby they don't want and someone has the nerve to say they don't want to pay to help someone to have a baby. I think if you have any morals at all you would rather help people live than kill them.
to Elizabeth
November 5, 2008, 1:56pm (report abuse)You disgust me. I suffer from IF and I am 26. My DH is 28. We have unexplained Male Factor infertility. There is no medical treatment for what he has. We have to do ICSI in order to get pregnant. NO...neither of us have done drugs nor do we have STDs!!! I really would like to see what your FATHER has to say about all this!