Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment?

The services covered by insurance will depend on where you live and the type of insurance plan. Fifteen states currently have laws that require insurers to cover or offer to cover at least a portion of infertility diagnosis and treatment. Those states are Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia. HOWEVER, the existing laws vary greatly in their scope of what might be covered. For more information about specific laws in each of those states, you may contact your state's Insurance Commissioner's office. To learn about pending insurance legislation in your state, you may contact your State Representative.

Whether or not you live in a state with an infertility insurance law, you can choose to consult with your employer's Human Resources Department to determine the exact coverage your plan provides. Another resource for determining coverage is, "Infertility Insurance Advisor: An Insurance Counseling Program for Infertile Couples." This booklet is available for a small fee from RESOLVE, an infertility patient advocacy and information organization.

Because the desire to have children and be a parent is fundamental to being human, people should not be denied insurance coverage for medically appropriate treatment for problems of infertility.