BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Starting January 1 families in New York State will have help with financial barriers to growing their families.
A new mandate will go into effect requiring private group health plans to cover in vitro fertilization and fertility preservation services.
This mandate will not apply to public health care.
“So really the change here Is that this was a rider, said Jennifer Vogel, the Vice President of Health Management at BlueCross BlueShield. “So, now this switches over from a rider - which is what an employer could purchase — to now it kind of goes into their insurance.”
You won’t see crazy rate hikes because of the expanded coverage, though.
“Great thing for the patients and for the physicians is that everything stays the same, it’s a mandated coverage now under the insurance so people get the benefit that they need.”
IVF can cost close to $5,000 per cycle, not including the medications. With the medications necessary to ensure success, between $3,000 to $5,000 can be added to those costs.
“That’s a huge factor right now — it’s cost limiting to many patients who want to move on to IVF but it’s just a cost factor because their insurance doesn’t cover it now,” said Colby Damon, a board certified nurse health practitioner at Buffalo IVF.
“We’re excited about how this is going to play out for our patients, how it’s going to help expand their families.”
All of your co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance fees apply.
Contact your insurance provider for more information on your exact costs.
