We got our Medicare Australia rebate back from our recent IVF cycle, and it has made me realise just how blessed we are to live in this country. Sure, it's got its faults - what country doesn't? But at least, for now, they give back a percentage of what we paid up front to help cover the costs of infertility treatment.
It doesn't make it okay, spending thousands of dollars per procedure (especially when it doesn't work) and it doesn't help to hear super fertiles tell you to 'just go again!' without thinking of the costs involved. I still find it ridiculously unfair that we should have to pay to make a baby, when it comes naturally to others. That part is hard to swallow, regardless of how much we're paying.
But our rebate is something - something more than what a lot of other countries provide. It breaks my heart that there are so many other infertiles out there who would love so desperately to take the step into IVF, but simply cannot afford to do it. So for today, even though I'm still hurting from the negative result and from the credit cards bills, I'll be happy about the small things & be grateful that I got the chance at all.
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9 comments:
It's really lovely that you can let yourself see some positives during such a difficult time. You've got a beautiful attitude.
I definitely feel you here. We've got good health insurance (for the U.S.) and part of infertility work is covered, but learning what we would have to pay for the initial consultation (along with everything else), we decided to put it off for a bit longer so that it would be a year since my cycles stabilized (and not just over a year since I started cycling). I'm not ovulating, but if I have to pay for the consult, I want to make sure they don't just say, "Oh, you should keep trying a little longer." If we wind up needing IVF... I'm not sure we'd be able to afford it. Crazy to think that, though we could afford to raise another kid, we might be prevented from having one due to finances.
We recently found out that our only option to have child is either IVF or adoption. Of course both options are ridiculously expensive. We've had several people tell us, "Oh, it's only money." While that's true, it's a lot of money for something that comes naturally (and with minimal expense) for a lot of people. It's also very hard to justify going in to debt for something that is not a 100% (our doctor told us ivf has about a 65% success rate) guarantee.
Health insurance here in the U.S. is subjective. The commenter above is lucky that she had coverage under her policy. Mine provided a max of $3,000, which only covered the initial saline sonogram. And, really, it won't change unless our legislators (at least here in my state) become open to being educated about infertility and choose to change their viewpoint.
Thanks for this. I'm not at the IVF point yet but this is handy to know. It is crazt the different rules in different states in Aus about fertility options.
Thanks for sharing, Aly. I'm so glad that you can see the positives in this situation - you are so strong. I'm really hoping that this Clomid round does something exciting for you.
Every time I get our rebate from Medicare, I also think how lucky we are... we couldn't keep going with IVF without it :) Love to you always xoxo
Here from ICLW - It is always amazing to hear about what other countries provide for fertility, prenantal care, maternity leave, etc. Not just how much more generous most of them are than the US, but also how varied the different options are. I am lucky that I live in a more progressive state in the US, where infertility coverage is mandated.
Good luck with your next steps.
I'm glad you've gotten reimbursed for at least some of it. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to health care in other countries and only know that ours here is pretty hard to work with.
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