Did you know that on April 1, Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 20-1158 effectively guaranteeing insurance coverage for infertility treatment beginning in 2022. Chances are you had no idea. While the world is spinning on its axis due to COVID-19 this powerful bill impacting 1 in 8 Coloradoan’s was silently put into motion. And no one is talking about it.
As of today we’ve spent nearly 4 years and over $15,000 working towards conceiving a child. Four years of doctors visits, injections, testing, and invasive procedures that have left us empty handed. Our 6th, and final, IUI was in February and like most couples in the middle of infertility treatment our next steps are in a perpetual state of limbo until the world returns to normal.
During March we were supposed to go back to the doctor and get recommendations on what to do next, most likely left with IVF and a projected $20,000+ bill as our only option for conceiving a biological child. Upon learning that our final IUI failed I called my health insurance provider, with which I have an amazing policy by any standard, and asked if there would be any future coverage for IVF treatment.
The insurance company shared that if I were able to get an exception from my employer, coverage for IVF treatment could be a possibility. After meeting with my HR representative, I found that the exception option is simply not possible. This left a hard decision on the table about the immediate future of how we want to proceed with further treatments.
When I stumbled across the fact that HB20-1158 had been signed into action nearly two weeks ago I was relieved, enraged and stressed beyond belief. I thought we had a final decision on the horizon. I thought we’d decide to continue with infertility treatment or go another path, in the next few months.
I was furious that I couldn’t find a single updated piece of media coverage explaining what the bill meant. I couldn’t find what the next steps would be towards getting required insurance coverage for the treatment I need because my body simply doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. I was upset with the ongoing delayed timeline. This was putting the likelihood of continuing treatment out another 18 months, with likely several months of pre-treatment testing required to start the process back up again.
I am eternally grateful to Governor Polis, Senators Faith Winter and Steve Fenberg, and Representatives Leslie Herod and Kerry Tipper. The Colorado Building Families Act is a huge step forward in healthcare, ensuring that fertility health in Colorado is no longer treated as a luxury.
Infertility is a heartbreaking and stressful process I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It hurts to see the jokes about quarantine babies and hurts more to see families who get to spend extra time at home with their little ones. It’s stressful and it’s numbing and there’s no escape.
I am looking forward to a time where future couples won’t have to experience this stress. Months of doctors visits and rigorous testing will no longer conclude with an insult to injury bill in the mail.
I appreciate that Governor Polis recognized the time sensitivity of infertility and signed the bill into law despite the chaos unfurling around him. For us, and the thousands of other couples experiencing infertility, Colorado’s Building Families Act is a beacon of hope during a season of darkness.
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