tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post4728503247911659182..comments2023-11-29T00:50:04.094-08:00Comments on Mine to Command: My IVF Pro Tips jAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-18044208783815356512014-05-04T05:19:23.715-07:002014-05-04T05:19:23.715-07:00I wish I had been more knowledgable when we starte...I wish I had been more knowledgable when we started the process. I didn't even know to look into differen pharmacies for the meds! I'm also so incredibly envious of anyone that has any sort of insurance coverage as we did not have a dime of help. We are suffering for that now, although fully believe it was 100% worth it. This is a great list, Jane. If anything, it helps others to understand that they need to look deeper into the process and do some research on their options. Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507432917936364757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-40261255374120654562014-04-11T14:38:11.913-07:002014-04-11T14:38:11.913-07:00I remember getting the price list from my RE and t...I remember getting the price list from my RE and thinking "this isn't going to be nearly as expensive as I thought". Then I got the pharmacy bill and added ICSI and assisted hatching and suddenly it was exactly as expensive as I thought. I wish I had thought of getting a 0% credit card for all this stuff. I am paying the interest on the ridiculous amount of credit card debt I racked up. Live and learn, I guess. JenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056681492831041470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-54421774174121521522014-04-08T18:06:18.787-07:002014-04-08T18:06:18.787-07:00Thank you Jane for understanding! I do know a litt...Thank you Jane for understanding! I do know a little bit about FSA, as my friend from work enrolls every year. I never, however, really thought of using it, as our annual health costs were minimal in the past. I'd sure be able to use it this year, if I were able to anticipate the expenses. We're now getting close to the FSA limit, and with one failed IVF- we will most likely spend beyond that amount by the end of the year. <br /><br />The lesson I've learnt recently is something I'm really quite mad with my clinic at - they didn't let me know in advance that their anesthesiologist is (my assumption) out of network for my insurance and we now have an extra $400 that we owe to the clinic, as the insurance only covered part of the overall cost. Sometimes it's really hard to know what questions to ask in advance of any treatment.. <br /><br />I will also be looking into my clinic's financing options, as my insurance doesn't cover embryo cryopreservation and PGD testing, which is something I'd like to do with my next IVF. <br />I don't dare to think of putting any of that on our credit cards, as they're already pretty burdened. <br />Kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08336515994729814909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-5183738116853525812014-04-08T17:57:36.691-07:002014-04-08T17:57:36.691-07:00I think this is a great resource for people just g...I think this is a great resource for people just getting started...and yet I'm sad that there's so many of us (yourself included) that can now consider ourselves "IVF Pros". We should get team t-shirts and have a softball tournament against the amateurs. Of course, they'd probably all get pregnant and we could win by default. ;)Aramishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275274008426941898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-14954373413474829012014-04-08T07:39:13.875-07:002014-04-08T07:39:13.875-07:00I am so humbled by your list of tips, knowing that...I am so humbled by your list of tips, knowing that I have insurance coverage and so many couples out there do not. In fact, I cannot imagine going through IVF, as I am now and having to pay out of pocket. Your post will remind me to keep things in perspective and to be grateful. By the way, shampoo bottle for sharps is a great tip! Thanks for the GI tip too. I've been drinking 1 tbsp of aloe vera juice from Whole Foods. It also helps. I drink it before bed. Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15260723824329854148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-91719841144235215052014-04-08T07:38:12.954-07:002014-04-08T07:38:12.954-07:00I say "Gum would be perfection" anytime ...I say "Gum would be perfection" anytime anyone offers me gum. Most people give me the same look Jill Goodacre gives Chandler. <br /><br />I should bookmark this post. Of course, I'm still claiming that I won't do IVF...but I know you once made that same statement. Lileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827780055657053096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-26242595090096455182014-04-07T15:49:16.509-07:002014-04-07T15:49:16.509-07:00This is great, Jane. If I've learned anything...This is great, Jane. If I've learned anything, it's that this online community is a fountain of helpful knowledge. A few comments: 1) We totally did the credit card 0% offer thing too. It's going to be brutal when our no interest period ends, but for now it makes IVF manageable. 2) We had/have similar fears about Attain and paying double if it works the first time. It would stink (and yet be awesome), but based on our situation it seemed like the right approach for us. But you are right, ICSI is separate, testing is separate, and you still have all the meds and office visits that aren't included. It never ends. 3) I will now pay closer attention to my bills. :) 4) YES, advocate for yourself. There's no hand-holding guidance through all of this, or a guarantee that our best interest is their #1 priority.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16130709434352231750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-21247925313364580462014-04-07T15:35:37.595-07:002014-04-07T15:35:37.595-07:00That being said, I have 7 or 9 Vivelle Dot patches...That being said, I have 7 or 9 Vivelle Dot patches that I don't need. My RE does Estrace for FETs. Are you interested. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06326763572650750036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-37649897516332106072014-04-07T14:21:22.589-07:002014-04-07T14:21:22.589-07:00I couldn't agree more - you definitely have to...I couldn't agree more - you definitely have to advocate for yourself! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-1807002126572346542014-04-07T14:11:16.987-07:002014-04-07T14:11:16.987-07:00Kas,
To anyone living in Europe, where there is a ...Kas,<br />To anyone living in Europe, where there is a single payer universal health care coverage, the US system is beyond confusing! The simplest advice I can give is to first know your plan and to know what will be covered.<br /><br />Know what your RE will bill to your insurance. I recently saw a patient who had her transfer done with XYZ fertility center, but she asked us to order her HCGs and I did her initial scan and follow up in two weeks. At first I thought this was poor of XYZ, that they kick them out to OBs faster than a one-night stand, but they won't bill her insurance. They charge $150 for each blood draw and $350 for each ultrasound. After their first successful transfer, they were so happy about being pregnant, they were almost happy to be paying that extra cost. For baby #2, the realised they could save a grand by coming to our office and we billed her insurance just like we would for any other pregnant woman. Ask what can be done by your regular OB/GYN and can be billed to your insurance<br /><br />Most companies will offer FSA as part of your benefits package and you have to enroll during a certain time period (usually at the end of the year, but it may run according to the time of your hire) You designate a certain amount of money (maximum is $2,500 per person per year) and that money is not subjected to taxation, so it's a way to stretch your dollar further. It's accumulates per paycheck, so you can either pay as you go (as long as you have enough to cover the expenses) or we like to gain it in a lump sum at the end of the year. The catch is that is operates as a 'use it or lose it' principle, so you really have to estimate your health care expenses and know how much you will need to set aside. Otherwise at the end of the year you end up stocking up on band-aids, Tylenol and anything health care related just so you don't lose your money.<br /><br />Also, if your health care expenses account for a certain percentage of your income (I'm not sure what that percentage is) you can use it as a tax-write off. <br /><br />If you have any specific questions, just email me and I can try to help janeallen746@gmail.comjAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-57401056418844305352014-04-07T13:40:05.869-07:002014-04-07T13:40:05.869-07:00My RE's nurse gave me a copy of his notes abou...My RE's nurse gave me a copy of his notes about my protocol and I took a look though my chart when no one was looking (I know, totally illegal) His notes were pretty prefunctory but I supposed I was just realived not to see anything to the effect of "poor prognosis, doubful treatments will be successful.."jAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06282963869813954232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-41791586537970015122014-04-07T13:38:57.486-07:002014-04-07T13:38:57.486-07:00Jane, honestly, the lessons-learnt is probably wha...Jane, honestly, the lessons-learnt is probably what I'm missing most in my google and fellow-infertility-bloggers' searches to help out in my struggle. I'm European living in US and health insurance works totally different over there, I found it absolutely exhausting trying to educate myself on how it all works, how much it costs and how/where to save money. One of the most frustrating part is - to me - not really knowing how big of a bill I get at the end of a cycle, as in theory my insurance covers most costs, but in practice the bills I get from the clinic state otherwise. <br /><br />I'll dig into the tax write-off option, I wasn't aware of that.. <br /><br />Any tips, any advice is - in my case at least - more than welcome. And so thank you for that post. :)<br /><br />(sorry for the accidental deleted comment, I'm such a scatterbrain..)Kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08336515994729814909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-65516675294852569372014-04-07T13:35:59.630-07:002014-04-07T13:35:59.630-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08336515994729814909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808830305872285145.post-64299015217841704782014-04-07T13:20:01.153-07:002014-04-07T13:20:01.153-07:00It's totally necessary to be your own advocate...It's totally necessary to be your own advocate. That's probably my biggest lesson in all of this too after 6 years of infertility. <br /><br />I learned a lot when I requested a copy of my medical records from my clinics. I had to pay for them, but it's interesting to see the nurses and doctor's notes. I also requested to talk with the embryologist about their reports (because seeing them gave me questions), I'm glad I did. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09557861103469077524noreply@blogger.com