So...I did this today...
Oct 10, 2016 20:18:26 GMT -5
Post by akraus2015 on Oct 10, 2016 20:18:26 GMT -5
If you don't ask, the answer will never be yes, right?? Sent this to the HR manager and to the President/CEO of H's company...
Template courtesy of resolve.org.
{Spoiler}
Hi [****],
My husband [****] has been an employee of [****] for 11 years. As he may or may not have shared with you, [****] and I have been suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss and secondary infertility for almost two years and have been working with a Reproductive Endocrinologist since January of 2016. I am writing today to request that you consider covering infertility treatment in [****]'s health benefits package.
Often employers believe that adding an infertility coverage benefit will increase health care costs. However, studies indicate that including comprehensive infertility coverage in a health benefit package may actually reduce costs and improve outcomes.
For example, a survey of employers, conducted by the consulting firm William M. Mercer found that 91 percent of respondents offering infertility treatment have not experienced an increase in their medical costs as a result of providing this coverage.
As also proven in the following studies, the perceived cost of infertility treatments is typically overstated.
Often patients select treatment based on what is covered in their health benefit plan rather than what is most appropriate treatment. For example, a woman having trouble conceiving because of blocked fallopian tubes or tubal scarring may opt for tubal surgery, a covered treatment, which can cost $8,000- $13,000 per surgery. Many patients are forced to forgo in vitro fertilization (IVF) because it is not a covered service even though it costs about the same as tubal surgery and statistically is more likely to result in successful pregnancy.
According to William W. Mercer, "The decline in use of high-cost procedures like tubal surgery would likelly offset the cost to include IVF as a benefit and provide improved health outcomes." (William M. Mercer, Infertility as a Covered Benefit, 1997).
In states with mandated infertility insurance, the rate of multiple births is lower than in states without coverage. (New England Journal of Medicine, "Insurance Coverage and Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization" August 2002). Couples with insurance coverage are free to make more appropriate decisions with their physicians based on medical necessity rather than financial considerations which often result in multiple births and a high rate of complications during and post-pregnancy. As a couple who has suffered through both recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility, we have had to have several tough discussions with our Reproductive Endocrinologist about treatment options that although may increase the chance of pregnancy, may also increase the chance of multiples and therefore increase our risk of having yet another miscarriage.
Comprehensive infertility coverage may actually reduce premium expense by as much as $1 per member/per month. According to The Hidden Costs of Infertility Treatment in Employee Health Benefits Plans (Blackwell, Richard E. and the William Mercer Actuarial Team, 2000), insurance premiums now indirectly provide coverage for "hidden" infertility benefits such as surgeries to remove scarring in the fallopian tubes for women or varicose vein removal for men, were calculated to be adequate to cover more effective and often less expensive treatments such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
Th cost of infertility services as a percent of the total health premiums went down after the 1987 Massachusetts mandate. (Study by Griffin and Panak, Fertility & Sterility, 1998).
According to a 2003 Harris Interactive Poll, 80% of the general population believes infertility treatment should be covered by insurance (Harris Interactive Inc., Survey, 2003).
In vitro fertilization accounts for less than 3% of infertility services. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), 85-90% of infertility cases can be treated with conventional medications. (ASRM website, Quick Facts About Infertility).
Please let me know if you would like any additional information. As [****] and I continue on this journey and continue to seek resources in our desire to have a family, I ask that [****] consider offering infertility coverage and support our family building efforts. Thank you for for your time and for your consideration.
Hi [****],
My husband [****] has been an employee of [****] for 11 years. As he may or may not have shared with you, [****] and I have been suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss and secondary infertility for almost two years and have been working with a Reproductive Endocrinologist since January of 2016. I am writing today to request that you consider covering infertility treatment in [****]'s health benefits package.
Often employers believe that adding an infertility coverage benefit will increase health care costs. However, studies indicate that including comprehensive infertility coverage in a health benefit package may actually reduce costs and improve outcomes.
For example, a survey of employers, conducted by the consulting firm William M. Mercer found that 91 percent of respondents offering infertility treatment have not experienced an increase in their medical costs as a result of providing this coverage.
As also proven in the following studies, the perceived cost of infertility treatments is typically overstated.
Often patients select treatment based on what is covered in their health benefit plan rather than what is most appropriate treatment. For example, a woman having trouble conceiving because of blocked fallopian tubes or tubal scarring may opt for tubal surgery, a covered treatment, which can cost $8,000- $13,000 per surgery. Many patients are forced to forgo in vitro fertilization (IVF) because it is not a covered service even though it costs about the same as tubal surgery and statistically is more likely to result in successful pregnancy.
According to William W. Mercer, "The decline in use of high-cost procedures like tubal surgery would likelly offset the cost to include IVF as a benefit and provide improved health outcomes." (William M. Mercer, Infertility as a Covered Benefit, 1997).
In states with mandated infertility insurance, the rate of multiple births is lower than in states without coverage. (New England Journal of Medicine, "Insurance Coverage and Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization" August 2002). Couples with insurance coverage are free to make more appropriate decisions with their physicians based on medical necessity rather than financial considerations which often result in multiple births and a high rate of complications during and post-pregnancy. As a couple who has suffered through both recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility, we have had to have several tough discussions with our Reproductive Endocrinologist about treatment options that although may increase the chance of pregnancy, may also increase the chance of multiples and therefore increase our risk of having yet another miscarriage.
Comprehensive infertility coverage may actually reduce premium expense by as much as $1 per member/per month. According to The Hidden Costs of Infertility Treatment in Employee Health Benefits Plans (Blackwell, Richard E. and the William Mercer Actuarial Team, 2000), insurance premiums now indirectly provide coverage for "hidden" infertility benefits such as surgeries to remove scarring in the fallopian tubes for women or varicose vein removal for men, were calculated to be adequate to cover more effective and often less expensive treatments such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
Th cost of infertility services as a percent of the total health premiums went down after the 1987 Massachusetts mandate. (Study by Griffin and Panak, Fertility & Sterility, 1998).
According to a 2003 Harris Interactive Poll, 80% of the general population believes infertility treatment should be covered by insurance (Harris Interactive Inc., Survey, 2003).
In vitro fertilization accounts for less than 3% of infertility services. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), 85-90% of infertility cases can be treated with conventional medications. (ASRM website, Quick Facts About Infertility).
Please let me know if you would like any additional information. As [****] and I continue on this journey and continue to seek resources in our desire to have a family, I ask that [****] consider offering infertility coverage and support our family building efforts. Thank you for for your time and for your consideration.
Template courtesy of resolve.org.
