Rich-Vaughn-Blog-ACA-Fertility-Coverage

Fertility Treatment Coverage Not Mandated Under ACA

Even as technological advances make creating a family via assisted reproductive technology easier and safer with more reliable result, it remains inaccessible to many people for one simple reason: money. Although government regulators and the insurance industry have shown some progress toward covering fertility treatment, the amount and criteria for coverage varies widely from employer to employer, from state to state and from country to country. Now the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the United States creates even more confusion: since the ACA leaves it up to each state to define Essential Health Benefits (EHB), states that previously mandated coverage of some fertility treatments may no longer do so, and what are considered EHB may change following the trial years of 2014 and 2015.

As ART has become more common and more sought after, some health insurers have begun offering limited coverage for fertility treatments, but the type of coverage and the criteria under which it is provided are all over the map, leaving intended parents to navigate a hodge-podge of insurance options. According to a September 2014 National Public Radio segment, citing a 2013 study by human resources consulting firm Mercer, 65 percent of U.S. employers with more than 500 workers cover a specialist evaluation for infertility, and 41 percent cover drug therapy. Only 27 percent cover in vitro fertilization. Thirty-two percent offer no type of coverage for infertility.

This dearth of coverage leaves many infertile couples, to say nothing of single or same-sex intended parents, with a terrible choice. A single round of in vitro fertilization, in which an egg is fertilized with sperm outside of the womb, in a lab, can cost between $15,000 and $25,000; a single egg donation cycle $18,000 to $20,000 additional. Financially strapped intended parents whose health insurance does not cover IVF and egg donation costs too often feel pressure to maximize the odds of a successful pregnancy by having more than one embryo implanted—they simply cannot afford to come back for a second or third round.

Even among the 15 U.S. states that now require insurers to offer some degree of coverage for infertility treatment, the scope of mandated coverage varies widely from state to state and in many states omits services for single or gay or lesbian intended parents, The New York Times reports:

In Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland and Texas, for instance, coverage is required only if a woman’s eggs are fertilized with her spouse’s sperm, according to Resolve [The National Infertility Association], a consumer advocacy group, which lists all of the states’ requirements. So single women, unmarried partners, men with sperm issues and married lesbians with medical conditions causing infertility are excluded.

Other large insurers provide coverage only if the infertility is the result of a medical problem, requiring the intended parent to attempt to become pregnant naturally for a prescribed period of time or via in vitro fertilization, at the intended parent’s expense. Again, women who are not medically infertile but are using in vitro fertilization with donor sperm are not covered. Even in states where some degree of coverage for fertility procedures is mandated, the laws apply only to health plans that are regulated by the state, The New York times reports:

Large employers, which are typically self-insured, are not subject to the rules because they are federally regulated.

Now health care professionals, fertility specialists and intended parents are eyeing the potential impact of the Affordable Care Act, for better or worse, on fertility treatment coverage—and there is as yet no definitive answer, according to the Times report.

The Affordable Care Act did little to expand infertility coverage, experts said. While exchange plans require coverage of certain essential benefits, the act allows the states to define those terms. “In states that do not require plans to cover infertility, they rarely do,” said Karen Davenport, director of health policy at the National Women’s Law Center. “They are mostly doing the minimum.”

The list of essential health benefits (EHB) that must be covered under the ACA is only broadly defined; the states are left to fill in the details, according to the Resolve website:

1. Ambulatory patient services
2. Emergency services
3. Hospitalization
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription drugs
7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
8. Laboratory services
9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

Under ACA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) required states to develop a state-specific benchmark plan (such as the largest small group HMO in the state). States that mandated coverage for infertility treatment prior to Dec. 31, 2011 “which was applicable to the state-specific benchmark plan selected by the state,” must require the same coverage in 2014 and 2015.

Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island chose benchmark plans that include some degree of infertility treatment. Arkansas, on the other hand, based its benchmark on the third largest small group plan in the state, which does not cover infertility treatments; in other words, Arkansas does not define fertility services as an essential health benefit.

Beyond 2015, things could change again. Should HHS change the way EHB are determined in 2016 and after, fertility services could be deemed in excess of EHB, and states including the coverage could be required to pick up the tab.

To determine whether your state’s benchmark for essential health benefits includes fertility treatment coverage, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Data-Resources/ehb.html.

Richard Vaughn
rich@iflg.net

Attorney Rich Vaughn is founder and principal of International Fertility Law Group, one of the world’s largest and best-known law firms focused exclusively on assisted reproductive technology, or ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, sperm donation or egg donation. Rich is co-author of the book “Developing A Successful Assisted Reproduction Technology Law Practice,” American Bar Association Publishing, 2017.

Peiya Wang
PEIYA WANG(王培娅)
Paralegal (律师助理)

Peiya Wang joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2015, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases and provides translation services for many of IFLG’s international clients. Peiya moved to the United States in 2012 to attend Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, receiving a Master of Science degree in Global Studies and International Affairs in 2014. Peiya moved to Los Angeles in 2015, received her paralegal certification from UCLA Extension, and obtained her second Master of Science degree in Legal Studies from Loyola Law School. Peiya relocated back to her hometown, Beijing, China in 2019 and works from IFLG’s Beijing office. When away from the office, Peiya is a dragon boat paddler and a ballroom dancer, where she favors Rumbas and Cha-chas. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Luis Sosa
LUIS SOSA
Paralegal

Luis R. Sosa joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2016, where he enjoys pursuing his passion for family and reproductive law. While working toward his bachelor’s degree at Florida International University which he received in 2013, Luis worked as a paralegal and legal assistant for family law litigation firms in Miami and Washington, D.C. As a paralegal and case manager for IFLG, Luis, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, manages surrogacy, egg donation and other reproductive law cases. Luis has worked for IFLG in both Los Angeles as well as San Francisco, and is currently based in Dallas, Texas. In addition to spending time with husband Randy and dog Marty, Luis enjoys being outdoors and appreciating the arts.

Toni Hughes
TONI BOONE
Paralegal

After receiving her B.S. in Business Management, Toni joined IFLG to pursue her dream of working in the legal field. As a Paralegal with over 10 years of experience in the assisted reproduction technology field, Toni is our Managing Paralegal, responsible for training and managing our paralegal staff. From drafting legal documents to assisting our clients with post-birth matters, Toni embraces the challenge of learning something new in this field each day. Besides spending time with her son, Jordan, Toni enjoys exploring new things, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and serving as a Youth Advisor for “Next Generation.”

Kim
KIM DEVEREAUX
Paralegal

Kim has over 30 years of experience in the legal field and has worked exclusively in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 1999. Kim is a senior case manager responsible for managing parental establishment cases and interacting with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorneys across the country. With three children of her own, Kim understands the importance of family and finds working in this area of law a rewarding experience.

Rich Vaughn
RICHARD B. VAUGHN
Founder

Attorney Rich Vaughn combined his personal passion as a father of twin boys born via assisted reproductive technology (ART) with more than 20 years of experience in business and technology law to build International Fertility Law Group. Today IFLG is one of the most successful and best-known law firms in the world focused exclusively on fertility law, helping thousands of intended parents through empathetic listening, compassionate guidance, and unmatched legal expertise. As an advocate for reproductive freedom, Rich also contributes his knowledge and time to improving the understanding and practice of ART law, most recently as a founder of and speaker at the first Cambridge University International Surrogacy Symposium held in June 2019, as immediate past chair of the American Bar Association ART Committee, and as a popular presenter to law schools, faculty and advocacy organizations all over the world.

Elizabeth Tamayo
ELIZABETH TAMAYO
Paralegal

Elizabeth received her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University of Los Angeles. Shortly after graduating, she continued her education at the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained her Paralegal certificate. Elizabeth is fluent in Spanish and has been in the legal field since 2009. She is excited to be a part of the IFLG Team helping families realize their dreams.

Sunny Chien
SUNNY CHIEN
Paralegal

Sunny joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2017, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s international clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from California State University of Los Angeles, where she graduated cum laude. Sunny is bilingual in English and Mandarin and has extensive experience as a legal assistant and paralegal at Los Angeles-area law firms. She is excited to be part of the IFLG team. In her spare time, Sunny enjoys spending time with her family and their dog, going to the beach, cooking, and being outdoors.

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Molly O'Brien
MOLLY O'BRIEN
Partner

Fertility law attorney Molly O’Brien began working in the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in 2005, at an egg donation agency and a surrogacy agency where she became familiar with all aspects of in-vitro fertilization, egg donation and the financial aspects of surrogacy. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, Molly has drafted and negotiated surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation embryo donation agreements for hundreds of her clients all over the world.

Phoebe Sadler
PHOEBE S. SADLER
Associate

Fertility law attorney Phoebe Sadler has a background in family law and has been practicing exclusively in the area of assisted reproduction technology (ART) law since 2018.

Rubina Aslanyan
RUBINA ASLANYAN
Paralegal

Rubina has an extensive background in the legal field as a paralegal in Family Law and has worked in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 2012. Her area of focus is in managing and assisting clients with surrogacy, egg donation, and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s domestic and international clients. During her spare time, Rubina enjoys spending time with her family and dog Bella, traveling and cooking.

Alexander Espinoza
ALEXANDER ESPINOZA
Legal Assistant

Alexander joined IFLG as a legal assistant in 2019, where he manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases. Alex is bilingual in English and Spanish and has been in the legal field for 23 years. Alex is excited to join the IFLG team and pursuing his will to help others in the reproductive law process. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors, road trips, loves music and dancing.

Cara Stecker
CARA STECKER
Senior Paralegal

After receiving her paralegal certificate in 2005, Cara began working in assisted reproductive law. During the fifteen years Cara has worked in this field, she has gained a wide range of experience and knowledge that she uses to help better assist clients and those involved in the assisted reproductive journey. Cara’s primary roles involve managing parental establishment matters and coordination with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorney network, drafting contracts and parental establishment court documents and providing support to other team members. Cara finds great joy in being a small part of a team of caring people who help others achieve their dream of having a family. In her spare time, Cara enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, watching her children play the sports they love, and she enjoys, running, cycling and exploring the outdoors in the sun.

Stephanie Kimble
STEPHANIE KIMBLE
Paralegal

Stephanie received her BS in History and Political Thought from Concordia University Irvine in 2015 and her Paralegal Certificate from University of San Diego later that same year. She has been working as a Paralegal since 2016 in Family and Reproductive Law. She is excited to be part of International Fertility Law Group working on managing Surrogacy, Egg donation and Parental Establishment Cases.

Trish Pittman
TRISH PITTMAN
Assistant Financial Coordinator

With more than 20 years of experience in the field of accounting, Trish joined the IFLG team in 2019 as Assistant Financial Coordinator. Her client-facing focus at IFLG is to assist with all client trust accounting. Trish is the mother of two daughters and enjoys spending time teaching and learning new things from them. In her free time, she loves long walks in the park and reading suspense and mystery novels.

Katie Deaquino
KATIE DEAQUINO
Senior Paralegal

Katie is a Senior Paralegal with IFLG and has dedicated over sixteen years to the areas of surrogacy and reproductive law. She received her Paralegal Certificate from Coastline Community College and has worked with some of the top law firms in the assisted reproduction community. Katie is also a commissioned Notary Public. With IFLG, Katie manages Surrogacy, Egg Donation, and Parental Establishment cases and provides support to other IFLG team members. Katie truly enjoys helping others build their families through assisted reproduction and is thankful she has had the rewarding experience of assisting IFLG clients. Katie often spends her free time with her Husband, four young children and her bulldog “Bella”.

Elsa Jimenez
ELSA JIMENEZ
Legal Assistant

Elsa joined IFLG as a Legal Assistant in 2019, bringing more than 35 years of experience working in the legal profession (concentrating in tort and litigation matters). At IFLG she assists surrogates with their surrogacy and parental matters. The oldest of five siblings, born and raised in East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Elsa loves “seeing the beauty of families forming” through assisted reproductive technology. She and her husband Carlos have four children and one grandson. Elsa enjoys jazz and ’80s music, being outdoors in nature, collecting teacups and tea pots, and spending time with her close-knit family.