The physical and emotional toll that infertility has on families is impossible to ignore. I have heard from a number of men and women from New Jersey who have experienced the pain and trauma of discovering that their bodies, which appear normal and function perfectly, are somehow deficient in the one area that matters most to them. This is only compounded when patients discover that their insurer, which they rely on for all of their critical health needs, refuse to cover treatment for this disease. The deep sense of loss expressed by those who desire a family as a result of this gap in coverage is real and significant. Their pain should no longer be ignored.
Infertility is a treatable disease.
New technologies and procedures that have been developed in the past two decades make starting a family a real possibility for many couples previously unable to conceive. In fact, up to two thirds of all married couples who seek infertility treatment are subsequently able to have children. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of treating this illness, only 20 percent of infertile couples seek medical treatment each year. Even worse, only four out of every ten couples that seek infertility treatment receive coverage from health insurers, and only one quarter of all health plans provide coverage for infertility services. One reason often cited by health insurers for their continued refusal to provide infertility treatment is the negative impact that this coverage would have on monthly premiums.