Week of 10/15

[icedcoffee]

seeyalater52,I want to try barre when all of this is all over. It looks hard, but fun! I hate how the classes are so pricey though!

It is crazy how 2 cycles for the same person with basically the same protocols can go so differently. Hopefully we get a couple good blasts out of this.

[seeyalater52]

Oct 17, 2018 7:57:12 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

seeyalater52,I want to try barre when all of this is all over. It looks hard, but fun! I hate how the classes are so pricey though!

It is crazy how 2 cycles for the same person with basically the same protocols can go so differently. Hopefully we get a couple good blasts out of this.

The price is insane and also the studio I went to (Bar Method) which is right across from my office in the financial district in downtown Boston was... something. I went in feeling so cute in my new workout clothes from TJ Max and was overwhelmed by all the fully made-up, very tan lulu lemon people. But I sprung for the unlimited monthly intro membership so I have to force myself to keep going!

[scm1011]

Oct 17, 2018 8:11:39 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Oct 17, 2018 7:57:12 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

seeyalater52 ,I want to try barre when all of this is all over. It looks hard, but fun! I hate how the classes are so pricey though!

It is crazy how 2 cycles for the same person with basically the same protocols can go so differently. Hopefully we get a couple good blasts out of this.

The price is insane and also the studio I went to (Bar Method) which is right across from my office in the financial district in downtown Boston was... something. I went in feeling so cute in my new workout clothes from TJ Max and was overwhelmed by all the fully made-up, very tan lulu lemon people. But I sprung for the unlimited monthly intro membership so I have to force myself to keep going!

lol, I had the same experience at the same place. I loved the workout, but its a little out of my budget since I have a membership at BSC as well. PS, we must be office neighbors. I work closer to Faneuil Hall now, but until recently I was at One Fed. 

[seeyalater52]

Oct 17, 2018 8:36:22 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 17, 2018 8:11:39 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

The price is insane and also the studio I went to (Bar Method) which is right across from my office in the financial district in downtown Boston was... something. I went in feeling so cute in my new workout clothes from TJ Max and was overwhelmed by all the fully made-up, very tan lulu lemon people. But I sprung for the unlimited monthly intro membership so I have to force myself to keep going!

lol, I had the same experience at the same place. I loved the workout, but its a little out of my budget since I have a membership at BSC as well. PS, we must be office neighbors. I work closer to Faneuil Hall now, but until recently I was at One Fed. 

Um HI. I work in one fed! And that studio is so nuts. It was the most quintessentially bougie Boston experience I’ve had in a long time.
PS we should get lunch together or something sometime!

[scm1011]

Oct 17, 2018 8:38:44 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Oct 17, 2018 8:36:22 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

lol, I had the same experience at the same place. I loved the workout, but its a little out of my budget since I have a membership at BSC as well. PS, we must be office neighbors. I work closer to Faneuil Hall now, but until recently I was at One Fed. 

Um HI. I work in one fed! And that studio is so nuts. It was the most quintessentially bougie Boston experience I’ve had in a long time.
PS we should get lunch together or something sometime!

No way, small world!! And yes, I'd love that  

[icedcoffee]

My insurance covers 3 IVF attempts/live birth. I just called my insurance to see what constitutes an attempt. Like now that we're doing a freeze all cycle is my FET going to be attempt #2?

Basically we were on the phone for 45 minutes and I still don't know. I asked to speak to the person who specializes in infertility and they said that doesn't exist.

If they can't tell me what an attempt is....then who can?!? The lady basically said it sounds like I know more about this than she does. Helpful. LOL

I'd rather not waste an attempt on a FET. Additionally, WTF are FET's so expensive? They barely have to do anything!

[stellelinds25]

Still waiting for my period *sigh* It's been 3.5 weeks since I stopped stims. Does anyone have any experience with how long it took for AF to come after stims? It's been 6 weeks since I've had a period. I'm trying to be patient, but good grief, could we catch just ONE break?

Sending hugs, crossed fingers and lots of luck to all who need it!

[G22]

Oct 17, 2018 9:41:50 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

My insurance covers 3 IVF attempts/live birth. I just called my insurance to see what constitutes an attempt. Like now that we're doing a freeze all cycle is my FET going to be attempt #2?

Basically we were on the phone for 45 minutes and I still don't know. I asked to speak to the person who specializes in infertility and they said that doesn't exist.

If they can't tell me what an attempt is....then who can?!? The lady basically said it sounds like I know more about this than she does. Helpful. LOL

I'd rather not waste an attempt on a FET. Additionally, WTF are FET's so expensive? They barely have to do anything!

How frustrating. I've found one of the most frustrating parts of IF treatment is dealing with insurance. Ours barely covers anything (just the beginning testing prior to treatment) and it's still a pain in the ass getting a straight answer.

I hope you can get a solid answer!

[G22]

I have to go get my basic bloodwork done tomorrow. Not only do I have to get normal 1 million vials of blood drawn for that, but my RE wants me to do the 3 hr GTT as well. I had gestational diabetes with my pregnancy 3 years ago plus he wants to rule out PCOS potentially, so yay. Blood draws are most definitely my least favorite part of the whole IF process. I nearly fainted a few times last time when I had a tech who sucked.

[seeyalater52]

Oct 17, 2018 9:41:50 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

My insurance covers 3 IVF attempts/live birth. I just called my insurance to see what constitutes an attempt. Like now that we're doing a freeze all cycle is my FET going to be attempt #2?

Basically we were on the phone for 45 minutes and I still don't know. I asked to speak to the person who specializes in infertility and they said that doesn't exist.

If they can't tell me what an attempt is....then who can?!? The lady basically said it sounds like I know more about this than she does. Helpful. LOL

I'd rather not waste an attempt on a FET. Additionally, WTF are FET's so expensive? They barely have to do anything!

Can you escalate to corporate? If your insurance is through an employer they should have a benefits liaison who works with the insurer's corporate arm and they should be able to clarify the policy around what counts as an "attempt" with a bit of prodding and put it in writing in case the medical claims side has a different view once you actually submit claims for those subsequent cycles. 

[icedcoffee]

Oct 17, 2018 11:21:37 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Oct 17, 2018 9:41:50 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

My insurance covers 3 IVF attempts/live birth. I just called my insurance to see what constitutes an attempt. Like now that we're doing a freeze all cycle is my FET going to be attempt #2?

Basically we were on the phone for 45 minutes and I still don't know. I asked to speak to the person who specializes in infertility and they said that doesn't exist.

If they can't tell me what an attempt is....then who can?!? The lady basically said it sounds like I know more about this than she does. Helpful. LOL

I'd rather not waste an attempt on a FET. Additionally, WTF are FET's so expensive? They barely have to do anything!

Can you escalate to corporate? If your insurance is through an employer they should have a benefits liaison who works with the insurer's corporate arm and they should be able to clarify the policy around what counts as an "attempt" with a bit of prodding and put it in writing in case the medical claims side has a different view once you actually submit claims for those subsequent cycles. 

 I might have to do this.  I may have my clinic try to help too although they told me we have a $100k lifetime max and Cigna told me today we have no lifetime max.  So frustrating.  I basically just said "I want to see ALLLL of the fine print.  Can you send me the fine print?"  LOL  Ugh.  We didn't have any coverage the first time so I am grateful, but they don't make it stress free.

[msmerymac]

Oct 17, 2018 8:11:39 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Oct 17, 2018 7:57:12 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

seeyalater52 ,I want to try barre when all of this is all over. It looks hard, but fun! I hate how the classes are so pricey though!

It is crazy how 2 cycles for the same person with basically the same protocols can go so differently. Hopefully we get a couple good blasts out of this.

The price is insane and also the studio I went to (Bar Method) which is right across from my office in the financial district in downtown Boston was... something. I went in feeling so cute in my new workout clothes from TJ Max and was overwhelmed by all the fully made-up, very tan lulu lemon people. But I sprung for the unlimited monthly intro membership so I have to force myself to keep going!

When I was working from home full time I kept West Coast hours, so in the morning I would walk to the barre/yoga/pilates studio in my town. I started because I had a pilates workout on DVD that I really liked. 

I loved the workouts and the instructors, but all the women (esp at the 8/9/10 am classes) were super made-up SAHMs talking about their latest ski vacations, who needed something to do while their kids were at school, I guess? They all had huge engagement rings, too. 

Anyway, I ended up meeting my BFF there. She was new to town, and it turned out she also moved to the Philly area from LA. She asked me a few questions about the class and we just struck up a friendship from there! 

But yeah, even just a few weeks ago I was mentioning my old barre studio and had someone tell me how clique-y it is. 

[msmerymac]

I hear you icedcoffee! Since I have an embryo-pop I asked my new insurance if a FET counted as one of my (2) attempts, and it does. Which sucks. With my last insurance, I had 4 IVF cycles and I guess a "cycle" was both retrieval and transfer. Also, with this insurance I have a $3k yearly deductible and an embryo transfer is $3500 at my clinic, so I'm like... it's not worth it to burn coverage on something when I'm going to save, like, a few hundred bucks max. But I'm not really that excited about paying $3500 OOP either.

The new doctor I'm planning on using does more fresh transfers than my current RE, so if that counts as "one" IVF attempt, that will be nice!

[icedcoffee]

Oct 18, 2018 7:19:07 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I hear you icedcoffee ! Since I have an embryo-pop I asked my new insurance if a FET counted as one of my (2) attempts, and it does. Which sucks. With my last insurance, I had 4 IVF cycles and I guess a "cycle" was both retrieval and transfer. Also, with this insurance I have a $3k yearly deductible and an embryo transfer is $3500 at my clinic, so I'm like... it's not worth it to burn coverage on something when I'm going to save, like, a few hundred bucks max. But I'm not really that excited about paying $3500 OOP either.

The new doctor I'm planning on using does more fresh transfers than my current RE, so if that counts as "one" IVF attempt, that will be nice!

It's so frustrating.  In your case I would definitely just pay it OOP.    A FET should not be counted as an attempt.  It's just wrong.

I just asked my HR person if there is a full coverage document somewhere she could send me.  We'll see what she comes back with.  What I don't get is that there is a portal for Cigna.  I go in there and get the "Certificate of Insurance".  It has some details about what it covers including infertility benefits.  NOWHERE does it say that there is any lifetime max in terms of dollars or number of cycles per live birth.  So WHY when I call are they telling me there is?  And WHERE can I find their definition of an "attempt".  Like...why does this need to be so difficult?  Why can't you send me the fine print?  I am an educated person.  If you sent me the fine print I would be happy to comb through it to find the answers, but I cannot find the fine print.  How do they follow the rules if they can't even tell me what the rules are? :::Throws shit at the wall:::

[msmerymac]

icedcoffee, insurance in America is so opaque. It's ridiculous. Just tell me the cost of something! I hate that you can't call a doctor's office and ask how much X appt. costs. It's always, "No idea, ask your insurance." And your insurance can't tell you until the doctor bills them after the fact. What on earth is included and how much do I need to pay?!

[King26]

Oct 17, 2018 12:39:02 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Oct 17, 2018 11:21:37 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Can you escalate to corporate? If your insurance is through an employer they should have a benefits liaison who works with the insurer's corporate arm and they should be able to clarify the policy around what counts as an "attempt" with a bit of prodding and put it in writing in case the medical claims side has a different view once you actually submit claims for those subsequent cycles. 

 I might have to do this.  I may have my clinic try to help too although they told me we have a $100k lifetime max and Cigna told me today we have no lifetime max.  So frustrating.  I basically just said "I want to see ALLLL of the fine print.  Can you send me the fine print?"  LOL  Ugh.  We didn't have any coverage the first time so I am grateful, but they don't make it stress free.

What state are you in? I also have cigna's and was told by my work that I have a max of 100k or 3 attempts per live birth ( be it IVF or fet-thats 3 attempts up to the 100k) cigna's said I had as many attempts as I wanted up to 100k. I was able to do 4 IVF and 1 fet, which totalled under 100k and they paid for all of it

[King26]

Oct 17, 2018 12:39:02 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Oct 17, 2018 11:21:37 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Can you escalate to corporate? If your insurance is through an employer they should have a benefits liaison who works with the insurer's corporate arm and they should be able to clarify the policy around what counts as an "attempt" with a bit of prodding and put it in writing in case the medical claims side has a different view once you actually submit claims for those subsequent cycles. 

 I might have to do this.  I may have my clinic try to help too although they told me we have a $100k lifetime max and Cigna told me today we have no lifetime max.  So frustrating.  I basically just said "I want to see ALLLL of the fine print.  Can you send me the fine print?"  LOL  Ugh.  We didn't have any coverage the first time so I am grateful, but they don't make it stress free.

Also, my fet was 5k versus 11k which is why I was going to pay oop for it but cigna's picked it all up

[King26]

icedcoffee just read the rest of yours. Cigna's told me that if you have a retrieval without a fresh transfer they will cover a frozen transfer for that cycle as 1 attempt. So the retrieval plus 1 transfer, whether fresh or frozen, is one attempt. It took me like 5 phone calls before I got someone who specialized in fertility to tell me that.

[icedcoffee]

Oct 18, 2018 10:44:45 GMT -5 King26 said:

icedcoffee just read the rest of yours. Cigna's told me that if you have a retrieval without a fresh transfer they will cover a frozen transfer for that cycle as 1 attempt. So the retrieval plus 1 transfer, whether fresh or frozen, is one attempt. It took me like 5 phone calls before I got someone who specialized in fertility to tell me that.

Thanks--that's what I hope is our case.  I'm in MD.  I got a few documents from HR and it is pretty clear we have unlimited lifetime max which is great, but 3 attempts per live birth.  I cannot find a definition anywhere for what constitutes an attempt.  I would hope one retrieval and one frozen transfer would be 1 attempt, but no one can confirm that for me.  

[King26]

Oct 18, 2018 11:18:22 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Oct 18, 2018 10:44:45 GMT -5 King26 said:

icedcoffee just read the rest of yours. Cigna's told me that if you have a retrieval without a fresh transfer they will cover a frozen transfer for that cycle as 1 attempt. So the retrieval plus 1 transfer, whether fresh or frozen, is one attempt. It took me like 5 phone calls before I got someone who specialized in fertility to tell me that.

Thanks--that's what I hope is our case.  I'm in MD.  I got a few documents from HR and it is pretty clear we have unlimited lifetime max which is great, but 3 attempts per live birth.  I cannot find a definition anywhere for what constitutes an attempt.  I would hope one retrieval and one frozen transfer would be 1 attempt, but no one can confirm that for me.  

I'm Maryland too so that should be the case. The 100k limit is because that is the Maryland mandated amount.

[King26]

Oct 18, 2018 11:18:22 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Oct 18, 2018 10:44:45 GMT -5 King26 said:

icedcoffee just read the rest of yours. Cigna's told me that if you have a retrieval without a fresh transfer they will cover a frozen transfer for that cycle as 1 attempt. So the retrieval plus 1 transfer, whether fresh or frozen, is one attempt. It took me like 5 phone calls before I got someone who specialized in fertility to tell me that.

Thanks--that's what I hope is our case.  I'm in MD.  I got a few documents from HR and it is pretty clear we have unlimited lifetime max which is great, but 3 attempts per live birth.  I cannot find a definition anywhere for what constitutes an attempt.  I would hope one retrieval and one frozen transfer would be 1 attempt, but no one can confirm that for me.  

Yes one retrieval plus the transfer whether fresh or frozen is 1 attempt. That is for cigna in maryland

[icedcoffee]

Oct 18, 2018 11:40:32 GMT -5 King26 said:

Oct 18, 2018 11:18:22 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Thanks--that's what I hope is our case.  I'm in MD.  I got a few documents from HR and it is pretty clear we have unlimited lifetime max which is great, but 3 attempts per live birth.  I cannot find a definition anywhere for what constitutes an attempt.  I would hope one retrieval and one frozen transfer would be 1 attempt, but no one can confirm that for me.  

Yes one retrieval plus the transfer whether fresh or frozen is 1 attempt. That is for cigna in maryland

Thank you!  Fingers crossed this is how the billing actually goes.  LOL

[seeyalater52]

I love that y’all are insurance twins! icedcoffee good luck getting a straight answer. I couldnt get anyone to tell me anything until our benefits manager escalated it to the corporate side of things. The medical customer service is always bogus. The corporate arm has an investment in keeping their clients happy, especially around open enrollment time.

[seeyalater52]

I got my meds delivered to work so I didn't have to worry about being home for the signature but now I have this ginormous, sketchy box of needles I have to bring home with me on the train. I did not think this one through.

[icedcoffee]

Oh man seeyalater52. Those boxes are huge. I'd transfer to a bag of some sort if you can. Easier to carry.