Have you been Googling “Affording IVF?” at 2 AM lately? Are you aware of the new laws in Colorado supporting insurance coverage for infertility treatment? How would you say the new Colorado Infertility Insurance Mandate (HB20-1158) is working (or not) for you?

Now six months into the new law here in Colorado which was designed to cover up to three (3) IVF retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, we had the chance to sit down with Katrina Hammons, Manager of Patient Finance here at Conceptions to see how it’s going.

How would you say the new infertility insurance laws are working so far?

KH: Too early to tell. We’ve had moments of encouragement and hope as well as moments of complete frustration with insurance companies – many of which are still not up to speed on what the new law covers for our patients.

My team at Conceptions is tasked with verifying benefits and is in touch with the managed care reps constantly for our patients. Some of the bigger insurance plans with fertility experience are well-versed in both the clinical issues and the design of the new law so that’s good. Others are still learning. Our patients have had a lot of patience with us, they understand that if they are accessing insurance benefits both providers and patients have a lot to weed through to get a cycle covered.

Have you seen more patients be able to access infertility care with the new mandate?

KH: Yes, but not as many as we expected, I think. While the law is helpful it is still very much dictated by what plans you have through your employer. We work with different plans from Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield to United Healthcare and Progyny. We see a lot of patients with the Progyny benefit which is pretty good.

What can patients do to make sure they take advantage of the new insurance mandate?

KH: First and foremost, they need to speak with their human resources person or benefits person at their company. Second, be vigilant. Every time you speak with someone at your managed care company, take notes. Get specific details about who you’re talking to, how they can be identified, and what they stated on the call. The more details you have the better off you are in the event you must contest something later on.

Are there companies that are not required to follow the new mandate?

KH: Yes, many self-insured companies fall outside Colorado Building Families Act (HB20-1158). Typically, these are larger companies with hundreds of employees where the company essentially manages the plan, not insurance. Also, if your insurance plan is based out-of-state you may not be able to access the new mandate. Again, sitting down with your HR person is the best first step to figure out if your treatment cycle or any part of it will be covered by insurance.

Any other tips or recommendations for patients?

KH: Outside of talking with their HR person, make sure you do your homework on success rates. There is so much work and stress involved in getting your cycle covered, it would be a shame if you didn’t find yourself at a fertility center with success rates at or above the U.S. average. There are only a handful of centers here in Denver that have these kinds of outcomes, so be sure to verify success rates as well as your insurance benefit. Visit CDC.gov to check IVF success rates.

For over 20 years, Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado has been a pillar of success and hope for patients across Colorado and around the world with clinical outcomes that meet or exceed US benchmarks.

We’ve been part of some of the most important clinical research projects and global advancements in reproductive medicine from PGT-A, Single Embryo Transfer to using the most advanced storage system for cryopreservation. We also work with a team of emotional support experts to help navigate the many emotions of infertility care. To learn more about Conceptions, visit www.conceptionsrepro.com.