Infertility treatment is not an easy path. Along with the physical discomfort and emotional ups and downs, most of those who choose to try to build their families through infertility treatment also face steep financial implications.

Infertility treatment is rarely covered by insurance. To date, only 15 states have laws requiring insurance coverage for infertility treatment—Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and West Virginia. And even in those cases, not everyone is covered.

*Melanie Dwyer of Chicago, Illinois, is lucky to live in a state that mandates insurance coverage, but there are always exceptions to laws, and in Illinois, self-insured companies are exempted. At the time she began treatment, Dwyer's employer self-insured, but she wasn't totally out of luck; they did offer some infertility coverage, with a $10,000 lifetime maximum benefit.

To put this in perspective, one IVF cycle can easily cost $10,000 or more, and since IVF is rarely the first step in infertility treatment, most, if not all, of the benefit can be used up before getting to IVF. As a result, Dwyer switched her insurance coverage to her husband's plan, which will cover multiple IVF attempts.

Two teachers from St. Charles, Illinois, made national news when they sued their self-insured school district. The teachers' employer provides no coverage for infertility treatment. The women, Lisa Mack and Angela Moreau, sought coverage for infertility treatment, claiming that the school district's policy both violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and discriminates against women. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that there was "reasonable cause to believe that the district has discriminated against a class of employees on the basis of disability by maintaining a health benefits plan that excludes coverage for (the women's) disability." The EEOC issued a letter allowing the women to sue the district in federal court.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.