If you have undergone any kind of fertility treatments you should know by
now the financial aspect that comes with it. The truth is that unfortunately
most insurance companies don't cover these procedures, so people who are
battling infertility are left paying out of pocket for almost everything.
When we first started treatments, our doctor wanted to see how I responded
to the least invasive procedures first. Least invasive meant cheaper, so we
were fine with that. These "least invasive" treatments didn't yield
the expected results, so we moved on to injectables and IUI's. The prices rapidly started going up.
It's odd when you start this roller coaster. It's like you can't stop. Once
you are in it, you are in for good. You keep telling yourself "one more
time", with the hopes of it working out, while your bank account and
patience deflates.
Last year we spent close to $10,000 in medical procedures, pills, shots,
sonograms, tests.... you name it. To us this was a lot financially speaking. We
had the support of our family, but it was still hard. Some lovely nurse helped
too, donating left over medicine from other patients. But
seeing all that money disappearing so fast, often left me out of breath. It's
in those moments when you realize how much you really want to be a parent... how
much this means to you and how far you are willing to go.
In our fertility clinic, the area where you pay is flanked by countless baby
pictures, smiling couples holding their bundles of joy and letters of gratitude from the happy parents. So,
while you are swiping your card, a cute little baby photo is
staring directly at you, as if giving you one last hope. It cheers you on. "Your baby's photo can be
in here too" it says, so you do it, without hesitation, hoping to be adding your obnoxiously
smiling photo to the list. It’s all about "the
dream", right?
Right now we are on a break, mostly because of financial reasons. And that
drives me mad. If I had the money you bet I would be cycling yesterday. But
we are faced with more tests and more procedures, just to find out if I have
something else going on. The doctors highly suspect I have endometriosis, but
the diagnosis can only be made trough hystero laparoscopy, which costs close to
$4,000. There's also a long list of blood tests which are pretty pricey. I
can't go through another IUI or IVF (which at this point is what we are leaning
towards) until I have these tests performed. So more waiting and more saving for us.
When you stare at the facts, it's all about money. Your dreams of
becoming a parent, dangle by the thread of cold hard cash.
Is it fair? no. I believe that fertility procedures should be covered by
insurance companies. As simple as that. I know that our health system is pretty
fucked up. It's not at all about the health and happiness of the people but about
greed and money. It's simply a business and we get caught in the middle. We are way behind... way behind.
In theory, healthy people make happy people, and happy people make a healthy
and productive society. But when said people are going into debt, just to cover
medical expenses, it's utterly ridiculous.
In terms of fertility treatments, some believe that if you can't afford to pay for the procedures, then you simply shouldn't have a baby. Or that fertility problems are
not medical problems, therefore no insurance coverage for you. Oh, really? How considerate of you fertile asshole, thanks! You see, most fertility
problems are caused by underlying medical conditions or disorders. So, how can
you tell me it is not related? How can you separate two things that are so
intricately connected?
I bet that most of those who've had kids without fertility treatments,
would be shocked if someone said to them that in order to keep their child they
should come up with $10,000 on the spot. Most wouldn't have that kind of money
tucked away to spend on a seconds notice. And that it's not a reflection on their right to be parents.
It's not as simple as being able to
be financially responsible for a baby. It's about the kind of money you have to
spend just to be able to play the game. If we were to conceive naturally right
now (yeah right!) we wouldn't have much problem taking care of the baby,
because it's a gradual thing. We would be able to adjust and save. Sigh!
The truth is we don't care, though. That's why we started this in the first place, right? If it's gives us the opportunity of having a baby, all will be put
aside. I believe most people facing this journey feel the same. We would still spend all the money they tell us too, we would go into
debt, apply for loans, whatever it took, because it
is our dream. We won't give up.
Some dreams have a price tag, but for us achieving this dream is priceless.
I may bitch and rant about it, but when the moment of truth comes again, you bet I will
be there swiping that card like there's no tomorrow. I will swipe that card until it's on fire. I will stare at that wall full of smiley
pictures and show them how it's done. Our picture will be up there damn it.
