Yesterday I made an initial consultation appointment with a local reproductive endocrinologist (RE) at a fertility clinic. Appointment is for Monday, April 7th. They do accept my insurance, but I have no idea what, if anything, will be covered. My explanation of benefits very explicitly states that all Artificial Insemination costs are not covered. Anyone out there have any idea how much an unmedicated IUI (intrauterine insemination) will cost out of pocket?
-Nutella
1 In Vermillion 
I asked my friend Nicole (she and her wife are also currently trying to start a family) and she doesn’t know off-hand, but said that I should send you to http://www.theivp.com, a site/forum she frequents, which is mostly made up of lesbian couples with young families or just starting families – apparently they’re really nice, and their collective knowledge on the subject is pretty impressive. Also, she said I could send you her way if you have any questions, or just want some new friends (their trying-to-conceive blog is at http://twohotmamas.blogspot.com/).
So, take it or leave it – I can give you e-mails and LJs, too, if you’d like!
…okay, I think my introducing cool people to each other urge has been satiated, now.
If DJ weren’t completely swamped with work, he’d be able to look it up for you; he learned all the procedures for things like that (determining payments) in his Medical Coding & Billing class. But it would require some research, and I don’t think he’s up to it — he’s barely able to keep up with what he already has on his plate.
Sorry.
This is Lynette’s friend, btw, found my way back here. Hi!
I’ve got a hockey game tonight, but if you don’t make it over to the site, I can ask the gals for you. I know there are a few people on there who’ve been working without coverage, though many people can get the IUI covered under the radar, as it were, using an OBGYN.
We’ve only done home insems so far, ICI (or IVI, however you’d like to phrase it), but we’ve now used both frozen and fresh, so at least we have experience there? I know there are directions on the site for a home IUI, and I know people who’ve done it at home (on their own, or with the help of a midwife), so it’s possible.
Anyway — hi! And good luck!
Thanks, N, and welcome! We’ve decided we’d like to do the IUI’s at the doc’s office. To us, it seems more like a scientific procedure than something romantic 😉 so we’re fine with that. Personally, I really don’t want to deal with the baby batter so to speak, plus there’s a greater chance of it working if someone professional is on the other side.
*laughs* No, I totally get that. I didn’t want it to be medicalized, which is why we’ve started with at-home, but if it doesn’t work after a few more, we’ll be moving into the office, too. We at least have some fertility stuff covered, but I have to talk to insurance and find out what restrictions there are, because you’d be surprised what they can refuse, even if you do have coverage. It’s crazy-making.
I just always like finding more people going through the same thing, as it can sometimes seem huge and lonely and intimidating.
i don’t know but i wanted to direct you to a really witty/fun/informative blog i read. she went through ivf/iui. she has a 3 year old (through ivf) and is currently pregnant with her second.
http://www.alittlepregnant.com/
Thanks N, I’ll certainly be keeping up with your journey via your blog. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!
Codekitten, thank you for the link, what a wonderful writer she is. And don’t you have a baby to take care of, or something? 😉
I see N has already been here! 🙂 Yeah, we’ve been reading up on at-home IUI and for what it’s worth, I don’t feel like it’s a case of romanticized/not, personally; it’s hard to find doctors who are gay-friendly, it’s not possible to make sure you peak during business hours Monday-Friday, it’s expensive enough as it is, etc., etc. In such a fraught situation, I think I’ve come to feel that any measure of control you can keep is a very good thing.
Whoops, sorry. That last one was me (J). Apparently we’re both logged in on this machine…
i know i know but how could i NOT respond to all of this incredible news?!?!?