Today’s podcast is mostly for our US listeners and we’re talking all about negotiating fertility benefits with your employer.
Because I’m based in Australia, I’m sure you can guess that I’ve called in a big gun to help me with today’s podcast–Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo, who actually helped create a fertility benefit in the US, and is on the Advocacy Day Planning Committee for Resolve, so is totally qualified to talk to you about all the things.
Let’s dive in and chat about how to add a fertility benefit and ways you can look into affording treatment with Jay.
Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo is is the founder and CEO of Wonder Woman Writer, a freelance writer, public speaker, infertility/women’s rights advocate, author of the blog, The 2 Week Wait, and proud IVF Mom. As an infertility subject matter expert as well as spokesperson and blogger, she has been interviewed on news outlets such as CNN, NPR and BBC where she has demonstrated her ability to make even reproductive issues fun and educational. Her articles have been featured on the Huffington Post, ScaryMommy, Time Magazine and The Mighty.
Key Takeaways and Jay’s Tips:
- If you have don’t have fertility coverage, speak to your HR department or decision maker at work and speak to them about infertility. Be prepared to advocate for yourself.
- Another option is going straight to your insurance company or to your doctor. For example, if you have a medical diagnosis for PCOS or endometriosis that your insurance does cover, because that impacts your fertility, they may cover some of your fertility treatment.
- Talk to your insurance company and ask for your benefits package or an explanation of benefits so you know what coverage you do have.
- Some insurances might have a specific healthcare provider diagnostic code. If you know your diagnostic code (if you have a diagnosis for PCOS for example), speak to your doctor and he might be able to list that as the reason for your treatment. Do you homework!
- If you’re worried about costs, ask your clinic about any clinical trials that you qualify for. Go to https://clinicaltrials.gov/, put in your condition and your state.
- Ask your fertility clinic if anyone’s donated fertility medication.
- In the States, you can apply for a grant for fertility medication. See the EMD Serono Medication Program: https://www.fertilitysavings.com/ and Fertility Within Reach Grant Info: https://www.fertilitywithinreach.org/financial-assistance/grant-assitance/
- Keep copies of all the money you’ve spent on fertility treatment or any related doctor appointments and talk to your tax accountant, when you’re doing your tax for the year, to see if it can be filed under medical.
- In the States, they have FSAs (Flexible Savings Account) and HSAs (Healthcare Savings Account which you can use towards your treatment.
- For more on grants, visit Resolve, The National Infertility Association’s website: https://resolve.org/ or visit https://www.fertilitywithinreach.org/, go to Financial Assistance, then Grant and Discount Program
Other links mentioned:
- For the best resources visit Resolve The National Infertility Association Site: https://resolve.org/
- Resolve Infographic on Getting Insurance at Work: https://resolve.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Infertility-Insurance-Infographic-Oct17.pdf
Find Jay at Wonder Woman Writer, on Instagram and on Twitter
Listen here.
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