Indiana lags behind other states in fertility health coverage INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana lags behind surrounding states in requiring health insurance to cover fertility treatments for couples trying to have children. Neale and Micah Red Elk are one of those couples. They’re having to t ake some extreme steps to start their family, something they wouldn’t have to do if they just lived an hour to the west. Their journey to parenthood is filled with vials of medicine and syringes. What has that journey been like? “It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” Neale Red Elk said. After several rounds of expensive escalating fertility treatments, their roller coaster went over the edge. “The doctor walks in and he says, ‘OK, is it time to try IVF (in vitro fertilization)?’ and I think, both of us, our hearts just kind of sank,” Micah Red Elk said. Their hearts sank even more when the sticker shock hit them. “Medication and procedures included, everything in total, you’re looking somewhere between $25,000-$30,000 out of pocket,” Micah said. Their sticker shock turned to frustration when they discovered other states, including three surrounding Indiana, have laws on the books requiring insurance companies cover at least some of the costs of fertility treatments. Barbara Collura, president/chief executive officer of the nonprofit Resolve: The National Infertility Association, said, “You have Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, and I want to say they are very different. The three states are not the same in what they’re state legislators have done, but they’ve done something. Ohio has done a little bit. Kentucky has done a little bit more. Illinois is off the charts. They are one of the best states in the country in terms of coverage.” The Red Elks seriously considered moving. “Wow, if only we lived somewhere else we wouldn’t have to go through all this stress,” Micah said. A tough pill to swallow for Micah, a lifelong Hoosier. “This process has tarnished my view of this state.” Not wanting to move away from family and friends, Micah got a second job at Starbucks because, as a corporation, its insurance plan covers IVF. For 20 hours a week, they cut two-thirds of that $25,000 to $30,000 cost estimate. “Yeah, and it’s probably the only way we would have been able to do it,” Neale said.Did Micah ever think that he’d have to basically steal 20 hours a week from the relationship with his wife to go make coffee so he and she can have a child? “That’s a great way to phrase it, and, no, I never thought that I would have to do that,” Micah said. Their frustration is aimed at Indiana lawmakers because they don’t understand how a staunchly pro-life legislature has not mandated insurance companies to cover fertility treatments. Neale said, “It feels hypocritical. It feels unfair. It doesn’t make sense. It’s incongruent. I don’t care where you side on politics. It doesn’t match. It doesn’t make sense and it’s very frustrating. If there is something that can be done, and we’ve seen it done around our state, why aren’t we doing it?” I-Team 8 spoke to lawmakers at the Statehouse on both sides of the aisle who are on committees that oversee bills related to health insurance. I-Team asked how Indiana be a pro-life state, but then also not require insurance companies to cover fertility treatments. State Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, said, “Well, we don’t often look to Illinois for policy ideas for obvious reasons. I think Indiana is a strong pro-life state, and we want to make sure that we remain that way. When it comes to that, the regulations of the costs involved aren’t strong, so I think if we were to go down that path, we would probably need to look at the costs involved with that. Make sure that we’re not putting, not the insurance companies, because, quite frankly, the insurance companies benefit when costs go up cause. They get a cut of it through their profit margin, but then ultimately the policy holders end up footing that bill. Employers end up footing that bill.” State Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, took a different view. “Well, unfortunately, the state of Indiana is in the business of picking and choosing what families look like, and here’s just one other example of the Statehouse deciding, or politicians deciding what families are going to be; how they’re going to look and who gets to call themselves a family in the state of Indiana, and IVF absolutely needs to be covered in the state of Indiana.” The Red Elks know all of their sacrifices to have a child will be worth it, but they want Indiana lawmakers to realize that their level of sacrifice isn’t necessary, and legislators can do something to help families like them. “If us coming forward to tell this story can help another couple have their dream of having children, then that is also worth it,” Micah said. ...read more read less