Lawmakers push IVF insurance coverage; industry pushes back

Kimberly Spath was in her early 30s when she tried to have a child.

Efforts to conceive with her husband were unsuccessful, so the Clifton Park woman turned to intrauterine insemination, something that, even if it was mostly covered by insurance, left her shelling out for expensive co-pays.

“IUI” didn’t work either, so the couple turned to in vitro fertilization. But without insurance coverage available for that conception method, the bills only mounted.

Tens of thousands of dollars later, Spath’s son, Christopher, who is now 8 years old, was born.

“It was heartbreaking to know that my fate rested with my wallet,” Spath said Wednesday at a press conference in support of legislation that would require insurers to cover “IVF.”

Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/275616/lawmakers-push-ivf-insurance-coverage-industry-pushes-back/