Should the U.S. Have Compulsory Insurance for IVF Babies?
Should the U.S. Have Compulsory Insurance for IVF Babies?
The government of Singapore requires couples undergoing IVF to purchase insurance that covers the extra expenses associated with specialized care for infants in the hospital. This makes for very interesting social policy, and underscores the need for couples in the U.S. to consider the value of hospital indemnity insurance. In the U.S. there is no such mandate, and little awareness that such coverage even exists even though the needs are more acute.
Singapore Insurance for IVF Babies
The Singapore Ministry for Health has called a tender to increase the insurance payouts for babies conceived through IVF. The insurer currently pays $100 a day should the baby require high dependency care and $300 a day for intensive care following birth.
Since 1992, it has been compulsory for couples going for IVF to buy such insurance. The premiums vary with the number of embryos the woman is impregnated with. They range from $60 for one embryo, to more than $2,330 when four embryos are transferred. The risks of problems increase significantly as more embryos are transferred.
The Singapore government understands the risks posed by IVF pregnancies. In a recent year 985 IVF babies were born. Of that group there were seven sets of triplets, 193 pairs of twins, and only 578 single births. Most surprisingly 629 babies required intensive or high dependency care. That means almost 2/3 of IVF babies required extra care in the hospital, and a high percentage of single births required such care.
Insurance Needs in U.S. More Acute
Couples in the U.S. have an even greater need for such coverage for two reasons: many couples are financially strapped before these extra hospital expenses kicked in, and there are financial incentives to implant multiple embryos.
Many U.S. couples undergoing infertility treatments pay the full expense out of pocket. Most insurance plans will not cover infertility treatments unless compelled by law. Fifteen states have mandates requiring some level of coverage for infertility treatments, but that leaves thirty five with no mandate. And the mandates that do exist vary widely in who and what is covered, and are full of loopholes.
U.S. couples may need to exhaust savings, and/or take on extra debt in order to get pregnant. They have a thin margin of financial error. When their baby or babies are born and require extra medical attention, the extra expenses can be crippling.
Second, studies have shown that couples paying for IVF without the benefit of insurance are more likely to be transplanted with multiple embryos there is greater urgency for clinics to show high success rates. Multiple embryos are more likely to result in multiple pregnancies, which are more likely to experience complications.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance Addresses this Risk
The United States does not mandate similar coverage, and there is little talk in the state rooms about adding such compulsory coverage. In fact the awareness of the need is very low. At minimum we should get the word out into the community. Please share this article if you can.
Couples undergoing infertility treatments would be wise to consider the value of Hospital Indemnity Insurance, and purchase coverage before beginning any treatments. Hospital Indemnity Insurance pays cash benefits directly to the insured for any covered hospitalizations.
Mom's normal labor and delivery is a covered hospitalization. More importantly, any newborn(s) that require specialized care due to sickness or injury are also covered. For example a policy that pays a $3,000 benefit for admission would pay $3,000 for a normal delivery, $6,000 if one infant required specialized care and $9,000 if two infants required specialized care, etc. Casio Baby-g Safe Baby Toys Vital Records Birth Certificate- Special Importance As An Identification Tool And Establishment Of Nationality Make A Baby Video - Never Miss A Moment Aries Cusps- Are You A Cusp Baby Baby Girls Clothes: Places Where You Should Ideally Buy It From Baby Shower Gift Ideas Baby Girl Nursery Bedding Ideas Scottish Baby Names- Make A Choice For Your Little Ones Essential Baby Clothing Searching for Best Twin Baby strollers Jogger to your Brand new Born Baby Acne Treatment - Treatment For Baby Can Be The Same Breastfeeding, Formula, And Your Baby