Companies consider insurance for in vitro fertilization
(sz) Having babies by in vitro fertilization seems like a personal or scientific matter _ the longing for a baby and the skill of petri dish procreation.
But it’s also a workplace issue. Almost two-thirds of Americans get their medical coverage through their employers, and studies say fewer than one in five employers covers the procedure. Its costs quickly top $20,000.
Now comes Resolve, a national group advocating for more fertility coverage, with a new pitch: Employers, if you add in vitro coverage, you will save money.
In a survey released last summer by Resolve, 91 percent of employers with the coverage said they saw no increase in their medical costs. The full report, by William M. Mercer consultants, also quoted a recent New England Journal of Medicine article that said the 14 states with mandatory infertility insurance had lower rates of multiple births, and the higher risks of expensive complications that come with them.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is considering adding the coverage as early as next year. “With respect to some of the research out there, including the Resolve organization’s, we’re reviewing all of it very closely,” said Jan Hennings, a spokeswoman for the insurer. “We’ve actually been looking at this for quite some time.” more…
From: »ScrippsNews«