
Motherhood Intended
Are you tired of scrolling your feed only to see the highlight reel version of motherhood? Join Jacqueline Baird, a passionate mom here to support other women on their unique journeys to motherhood and beyond.
You’ll hear from experts in the fields of women’s health, fertility, and family planning, as well as from the brave women who want their unique stories to be heard. We’ll talk about unexpected paths taken, miraculous moments experienced, and how we keep going on this beautiful and ever-changing journey as mom.
This podcast will also document Jacqueline’s current life as a mom of three, plus many reflections and insight from her decade long infertility journey including multiple losses, IVF, preterm deliveries, surrogacy, and more. Stay tuned as her family’s story continues to unfold.
If you feel like you can’t always relate to the picture-perfect stories you see, follow the podcast now and join a community that’s getting real about what it takes to be a mom.
Motherhood Intended
Understanding Fertility Coverage And Finding Support Through Insurance And Your Partner
Insurance and infertility are two words that rarely bring comfort, but understanding how to navigate your coverage can change everything about your experience.
In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline shares her best guidance for reading your policy, asking smart questions, and knowing your rights when it comes to fertility care. She explains what “infertility coverage” really means, how to check if your clinic is in-network, and why employer fertility benefit programs could be a game changer. You’ll also learn how to have honest money talks with your partner so financial stress doesn’t take over your journey.
This episode is equal parts practical and heartfelt. Jacqueline reminds listeners that while fertility insurance can feel overwhelming, you are more capable than you think. With preparation, persistence, and a little advocacy, you can find clarity, save money, and feel more in control of your path to motherhood.
What you will learn:
- How to review your insurance plan for fertility coverage and common exclusions
- How to advocate for coverage and explore employer fertility benefit programs
- Ways to approach financial planning and set realistic expectations with your partner
- How to save money on medications and self-pay packages while reducing stress
Links mentioned:
- National Infertility Association: Resolve.org
- Women’s health & family building benefits: Progyny & Maven
- Support for Metabolic-Fertility care: Carrot Fertility
✨ Free Resource for You ✨
Want to feel more confident and prepared at your next doctor’s appointment? I created a simple, one-page tool just for you 👉 Grab your free copy here!
Connect beyond the podcast:
Help give the absolute greatest gift to deserving intended parents and learn more about becoming a surrogate (plus earn up to $650 for taking the first few simple steps)!
__________________________________________________________________________________
💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________
Are you tired of scrolling your feed only to see the highlight reel version of motherhood? If so, then you're in the right place. Welcome to the Motherhood Intended Podcast. I'm your host, Jacqueline Baird, and I'm a passionate mom here to support women like you in their unique journeys to and through motherhood. I have been through it all. We're gonna be talking about things like trying to conceive, infertility, IVF, surrogacy, mom life, and more. It's time to get real about what it takes to be a mom and come together in the fact that things don't always go as planned. So here we go. Hey, it's Jacqueline. Welcome back to Motherhood Intended. If you're in the middle of your fertility journey, you already know the emotional roller coaster is real. But today we're gonna talk about another part of the journey that can feel equally confusing and overwhelming. And that's navigating insurance coverage for fertility treatments. Because let's be honest, figuring out what's covered, what's not, and how to actually make sense of it all can feel like learning a new language. So in this episode, I'm breaking it down. We'll talk about what to look for in your policy, what questions to ask, how to advocate for coverage, how to have the hard financial conversations with your partner, and some tips that could save you money, time, and stress. And before we dive in, if you're in this season of trying to conceive or exploring fertility treatment options, don't forget to join our community, your fertility village. We're currently accepting founding members and you can earn that badge and lock in a lifetime membership rate of only$7 a month through the end of the year. After that, founding member memberships will close and it will open to the rest of the public at a higher price in the new year. So join while you can and lock in that awesome rate. Plus, you can help build this community from the ground up. And there will be so many awesome perks for founding members who are there from the jump. Your Fertility Village is a safe space where you can get guidance, support, and connection every step of the way. You can learn more at your dash fertility-village.mn.co or through the link in the show notes. All right, let's get into it. So understanding what's covered. When it comes to insurance and fertility, one of the first things I want you to know is this coverage varies drastically. I mean, it depends on your state, your employer, and your specific plan. So some states have mandated fertility coverage laws, meaning employers are required to provide certain benefits, things like diagnostic testing, IUI, or even IVF. But in other states, there's no mandate at all. And it's entirely up to your employer or insurer to decide. So if you're unsure, start by checking whether your state has a fertility mandate. You can look this up on resolve.org. That's the National Infertility Association's website, and they keep an updated list of which states require coverage and what's included. The next thing you should do is request a summary of benefits from your insurance provider. And you'll want to look for specific terms like infertility diagnosis and treatment, assisted reproductive technology, also known as art, IVF coverage, cryopreservation, or embryo storage. Even small words matter because some plans will cover like diagnosis of infertility, but not treatment of infertility. It's a fun game, I know, but it's really important to read these things carefully so you know what exactly is covered. Once you've reviewed your policy, reach out directly to your insurance company. Trust me, I know it's not fun. And being on the phone or being on hold or trying to discuss all this with an insurance company is definitely not top of the old to-do list or ranked as fun. But trust me, it is worth it. So here are a few key questions to ask when you call them up. Number one, what fertility services are covered under my plan? Two, do I need a referral or prior authorization before treatment? Three, is there a lifetime or per cycle limit on fertility coverage? Four, does my plan cover medications, labs, ultrasounds, or genetic testing? Five, are donor eggs, sperm, or gestational carrier services included? And then lastly, what about embryo storage? Is that covered? And if so, for how long? So some of these questions might not even be on your radar right now, you know, things like donor eggs or surrogacy. Maybe you're at the beginning of your fertility journey or, you know, you're just kind of seeing what is available to you with your insurance. Make sure you ask all of these questions anyway, because take it from me, you just never know where your fertility journey will take you. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that we would pursue surrogacy. I never thought that my body would not be able to carry a pregnancy. At the beginning of our journey, I didn't even think IVF was needed. You know, we started with testing and IUIs and medications. Lo and behold, things like IVF and gestational carrier services and embryo storage all came into play. And so it's just really important just to have a good idea of what's covered in the event that one of these things becomes part of your story. And here's a big one: ask if your clinic is in network, because some fertility centers have their own financial counselors who can help you navigate the insurance side. And honestly, they are worth their weight in gold. Anyone who is willing to help you out with this, especially someone who already is a part of your clinic, is going to be so useful. Okay, on the flip side, I want you to know how to advocate yourself for yourself in the event that, you know, your plan doesn't include fertility coverage. And if your plan doesn't include this kind of coverage, don't lose hope. Okay. There are still ways to advocate for yourself. The first thing you can do, you can talk to your HR department. Maybe it's your HR department, maybe it's your husband's, whatever it is, talk to your HR department. Especially if you work for like a medium or large company. Sometimes employers can add fertility coverage at renewal if employees express enough interest. So don't be afraid to do that. All you can do is ask if it if it's turned down fine, but at least you know, okay, don't be afraid to ask for what you need. And use open enrollment wisely. Each year, make sure to review your options. Sometimes one plan may cover diagnostic testing or meds, even if others don't. There was a year I know for my husband and I when like we started infertility testing and certain things were not covered. And within a year or two, our same insurance company was offering that on our same plan. So make sure just like every year review what's being offered and what your options are. And be sure to explore employer fertility benefit programs. These are programs like Progeny, Carrot Fertility, or Maven. These are add-on programs that some companies offer that can give you access to coverage, even if it's not through your traditional insurance. So this is not something that was on my radar back in the day, back in the day. I think we were going through this. It was about 2015 when we started, yeah, about 10 years ago, when we started with, you know, infertility testing and diving into all of that. And I had no idea to look in about looking into fertility benefit programs. Maybe they existed, maybe they didn't back then, but it's definitely a thing now. So check and see if your company has the opportunity to add on those programs. And if you're paying out of pocket, ask your clinic about self-pay packages, medication discounts, or refund programs. And some for pharmacies even price match fertility medications, which can make a big difference. I definitely took advantage of this because when we went through IVF, we were paying out of pocket. It was not covered by my insurance at the time. And honestly, I'd be curious what the company does now. It's a big tech company, and this was 10 years ago. And I think my insurance covered three or four. I think it covered four IUIs in a year. It covered initial diagnostic testing and monitoring, but it that's all it covered. So you couldn't do more than four IUIs in a calendar year. And then it did not cover any part of IVF. I would hope that it does now, 10 years later. I mean, I know a lot more companies are getting on board, but we've still got a lot of work to do in the support of infertility treatments. So yeah, definitely get creative. See about self-pay packages. That's what we did. Medication discounts, we did that as well, and that helped. And then there's often refund programs too. So just check around and see if and when and where you can save money because every little bit will help. Okay, let's shift gears for a moment and talk about the financial conversations that come with all of this. Because it's not just having a conversation with your insurance company or your the company you work for. And it's not just about what insurance covers, right? It's about what you and your partner can handle both emotionally and financially as a team. Now, take it from me, these discussions can get uncomfortable fast. I mean, money's never fun to talk about, especially when you've both have been navigating disappointment, hope, and the stress of trying to conceive. But I've learned that honest communication early on can save you so much tension later. Um, depending on how long your infertility journey ends up being, you know, some people, some people have a little bump in the road, others spend years trying to create their family. And let me tell you, it can a lot of these different piece moving parts of infertility can have a toll on your marriage. Um, and the financial piece of it is one of those big things. So have these honest conversations early on so you can save yourself from all the tension later. So here are a few things that can help. Set a shared budget from the start. Okay. Decide together how much you're realistically able and willing to spend on treatments, travel, medications, or storage fees. It's okay if that number changes later, but at least like have a baseline so it'll help ground your decisions. And the important thing here is what you're realistically able to spend and willing to spend, because this is where maybe you and your partner might not see eye to eye. So just have a conversation about it and talk about your emotional limits, right? Not just financial ones. You can ask each other, you know, how many cycles do we feel emotionally capable of trying before taking a break or exploring another path? Obviously, you don't know for sure until you're in it, but just kind of getting a feel for each other's like baselines and where you're comfortable going in high, like in theory, this will keep the conversation about, you know, your overall well-being, not just your bank account. I know this was a big trigger for me when we were going through fertility treatments and figuring out how to safely grow our family and you know, eventually going on to surrogacy is I would get so triggered when it would come down to just money. Because to me, as somebody who has just dreamt of this family and has worked so hard and has been through so much loss and struggle and treatment and just all these things over the years to try and complete our family. To me, the financial piece was simple. It was either we could do it financially or we have to find another way. Like I would not take no for an answer, but I also was not thinking about, you know, the emotional limits of the financial piece because it can create more stress. It can create an, you know, a different dynamic within your marriage. And there are just so many moving parts other than like the numbers on paper. Okay. So make sure you're thinking big picture. Another thing that would help is to divide the mental load of it all. So maybe one of you handles the calls to insurance and the other handles pharmacy coordination or billing. It'll help both partners stay involved and invested because if the other person isn't understanding everything that goes into figuring all of this out and just knowing the ins and outs of insurance and options and everything, it might be hard for the other partner to understand, A, how this is taking a toll on you mentally, or B, just what those options even are and what's possible and what's not. So by splitting, you know, kind of dividing this mental load, you'll both stay involved, you'll both be invested in this common goal of figuring out how to financially support your journey. And lastly, I want to suggest that you be transparent with your partner about your fears. I also, this is a good time to mention to you. I keep saying partner, but like if you are on a path as a single mom by choice, find someone that you can talk to. You don't have to talk about the ins and outs of costs and your finances and everything, but it is a big part of the journey that can weigh on you. So find somebody that you trust to talk this through with and just someone that you can be opus and open and honest with about your fears surrounding the financial piece of fertility. It's completely normal for one partner to feel anxious about the cost while the other feels desperate to keep trying. So give each other space to express that without judgment. Okay. By default, I mean, you and your partner are two different people. You are experiencing the whole journey in two different ways. And that's why it's important to leave space for each other to express however you're feeling without judgment. This was a hard one for us at one point because, yeah, one of us, my husband, was feeling more anxious about the cost, and I was feeling more desperate to keep trying and just keep pursue this dream that we had. And truthfully, I at some points I was willing to do it at any cost. It wasn't until after we had some children at home, our boys, and we're going to pursue further that I started to look through things differently and really see what my husband's point of view was as far as like it's the big picture. You know, we have two kids we're taking care of. We have a house, we have jobs. I had become a stay-at-home mom. You know, the dynamics of everything had changed. And so it's really important just to be open and honest and look about the think about the big picture when you are looking at this financial piece. And just know for both of you, like go into it as a couple, knowing that these things can change. It's awesome that you're talking about it, but you know, your emotional limits might change. You might decide that originally that you both want to do X amount of cycles before exploring another path. And it might be less. It might, you don't know what the future holds, but it's good to just kind of remotely be on the same page so there aren't any surprises and you can be open and honest about your feelings. And if this all feels like way too much to navigate alone, financial counseling through your clinic or even couples therapy can be a really safe space to have these discussions. Your team and how you handle the money conversations now can definitely strengthen that bond through every step ahead. These financial and emotional pieces of the fertility treatment that we are talking about are very real. I've been there and I know firsthand how heavy this part can feel. Whether you're facing bills for blood work or ultrasounds and medications before you've even gotten a positive pregnancy test, it's a lot. And it's not just financial, it's emotional, right? It can make you feel like your family is being held hostage by insurance codes. But please remember your worth, your path to motherhood, your story is not defined by a line item on a policy. Okay. If you've ever, if you're listening and you've ever had to make the heartbreaking choice between another cycle or saving your marriage, your sanity, or your savings account, I see you. And trust me when I say you are not alone in that. Here is the truth. Navigating insurance for fertility treatments can be complicated, but you are more capable than you think. Every time you call an insurance rep, every time you ask another question or push for clarity, you're advocating not just for yourself, but for the women coming after you. The more we talk about this, the more employers, lawmakers, and insurers start to see that fertility care is not elective. It is essential health care. So if you take anything from today's episode, let it be this. You deserve support financially, emotionally, and medically on your path to motherhood. If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone else who's navigating this confusing insurance maze. You never know who might need to hear that they're not alone in this. And if you want more guidance, tips, and community, come join us inside your fertility village. You'll find conversations, expert advice, and women who truly get it. I would absolutely love to have you as a founding member in your fertility village. It is a space near and dear to my heart, and I am so excited to be launching it. And as a founding member, now if you join now through the end of the year, you get a special founding member badge. You lock in the best price this membership will ever be at, which is only$7 a month. And that'll be your cost forever. The value is going to increase. What we offer is going to continue to increase, but you will always have a membership fee of only$7. So I would love to have you on the ground floor helping me build this village. You can find the link in the show notes or visit your-fertility-village.mo.co. And before you go, I also created a free doctor's appointment guide to help you feel more confident and prepared for your next fertility visit. So it includes the exact questions to ask your doctor, a space to take notes, and then a few gentle reminders for protecting your peace along the way. You can grab it for free using the link in the show notes or visit motherhoodintended.kit.com slash freebie. Thanks for tuning in today. As always, I'm sending love, light, and strength to you wherever you are on your journey. And I'll talk to you next time on Motherhood Intended.