Okay, back on like December 21 or something I went to the Gyno and he wanted to send a referral to TRICARE for me to go to an infertility clinic to start treatment. I have not heard anything from TRICARE and its been what like 2 or 3 weeks? Does anyone know if TRICARE will let me know if my referral was denied? And does anyone know if TRICARE covers any of the infertility treatment? Or if need be- an IVF?

they do NOT cover IVF. my friend had to drop Prime and go with Standard before she got any of her fertility issues taken care of.

If you haven't been trying for at least a year, it will most likely be denied. and it can take months before you know one way or the other. You may have to call your Doc and see if he has heard anything on his end.

This was a few years ago but at the reproductive endocrinologist I saw, there were certain things that were covered, IVF was not one of them. I know meds (femara, clomid, progestrone, HSG trigger), HSG, IUI, and ovarian drilling were covered. As far as I have been told, the above are still covered but I couldn't say for sure.

A friend of mine, is going through infertility issues and she was told iui and IVF are not covered, theres a MRF that does IUI's but you have to pay the cost of it (suppose to be cheaper than a civilian doc would charge though) but the waiting list is really long, another MTF that does IVF (but again you still have to pay its just cheaper than civilian doc) and the waiting list is really long, and she had to have it in her medical file for at least a year that she was having fertility issues before she could even get on the waiting list for either.

Yes, Tricare will let you know if the request is denied. But requests can take up to 30 days, depending on how many levels of review it needs to go thru.

Okay so I just called Tricare today and after the long process I found out that I HAD been approved. But no one bothered to tell ME! I guess were gona go from here. Hopefully I don't need IVF or IUI. Thanks for the help

IVF is not covered; however, it is substantially discounted compared to getting it in the civilian sector (roughly 50% cheaper).

Hi,

I have learned from past experience that you can call Tricare and find out if a referal has been authorized. In fact, that is what I do every time. They even have it's on extension on the Tricare phone service for that. They will also send you in the mail a letter to let you know if you've been approved or not. If a doc puts your referal in as urgent, you will have an answer the next day, generally. If it is not put in as urgent it noraml is 3-7 days. Never wait more than 7 days. Call them.

I will be started my first IVf cycle in a few days, just waiting to start my period. Tricare told me that they MAY cover SOME infertility procedures. IVF is not one of them. But they told me to find a doc who accepts TRicare and have him send everything in to get referals and I may be surprised as to what will be covered.

We are in CA, and were able to find a civilian doc who is giving us a 25% discount for IVF. I have researched into IVF on military bases and have seen that most charge $5000 and have a least a 6 month to year and a half waiting list. I just saw my IVF doc Monday and we are already starting the process...and we are only paying $1600 more than the local base charges. (No waiting!!!)

Good luck to you

I'm sorry, but MrsJVB is incorrect.

Infertility is completely covered, with very few exceptions. I am witness to that personally. Our daughter was miraculously conceived - after 6 years of infertility and "trying by ourselves" - with the caring and wonderful help of Infertility Specialist Dr. Lauffer & staff (San Diego NTC).

They covered all of our primary infertility care, IUIs, meds, etc. They do not cover all of the expenses on IVF, however it is GREATLY reduced compared to civilian costs (which are on avg. 10K IVF, 5K meds, 2K tests, f/u, etc.).

Unfortunately, I was too "old" (over 40+) to qualify for IVF within the military for our second child. However, they did try IUIs with us, to no avail. So, we ended up seeking civilian care for the IVF - and found an amazing doctor (Dr. Rakoff) who is the top IVF specialist in San Diego (the first to have a successful IVF here). He gave us a "military discount" of half-off!! That was amazing and gracious. Our one and only IVF failed as well, but I'm happy we tried. We are now seeking an egg donor within the military. But, I'm currently unsure of any resources in our community for this type of gift.

Good luck and I SINCERELY hope that you achieve and conceive in good health!!
smiles, Amber

For those of you that are close to Maryland or DC Walter Reed has a program that costs about 4100, and the waiting list is about 3 months long but for someone in my financial situation that is the best that I can get because my husband and I have truly run out of options. We were told that Tricare doesn't cover any aspect of IVF although they did cover most of the cost of my surgery and my testing.

Hello Ladies,
I to am a pacient of Dr. Laufers at NTC in San Diego I am currently undergoing my 5th round of infertillity treatments with them. They have no idea what is wrong they say my husband and myself are just fine but nothing after 2.5 years of tring...I know walter reed also does IVF but since San diego has a 12-18 month waiting list and between 3,500-5,500$ price tag and currently on hold they are not doing any at this time is it possible to go to walter reed?? I really don't want to be pacient any more.. lol.. I know everyone here is he same way... but I am going on 3 years of tring and getting more and more inpacient... asnd now there saying at least 12-18 months longer....uggg.. can we choose to fly to walter reed?? Are they still doing it??

I also saw Dr Laufer April 2007, we did our first IVF cycle and it cost just under 5K for the procedure. He is an amazing RE!
we subsequently lost our twins due to pre-term delivery at 20wk.
I then had a failed FET cycle in Nov that cost 500.
However, got pregnant on Clomid in Dec and am about to have our first Daughter in 12 days.

To get a referal to Walter Reed, go see Dr Laufer and ask him to refer you to a new MTF for infertility - if you are willing and able to pay for the trip and accomodations there, i say go for it.

my DH is in the USAF and we live in AZ, so I drove to SD - many many times in the same day.

Just a side note - services provided by the MTF are paid for by the Military bases budget - they have nothing to do with Tricare services. What the MTF offers for covered services are not always covered by Tricare. Be sure to double check with Tricare for coverage with an off base provider.

Also - many of the drugs supplied by the MTF for IVF are not covered by Express Scrips....so check to ensure you can pick those drugs up from the base, otherwise you might have a shock when filling the script off base.

Good luck ladies!

If walter reed is too much or too far, you can be referred to the IF clinic at Lackland AFB also.

We are OCONUS and did IVF while here in Germany, but paid for it ourselvs, didn't even attempt to go through the military. We did treatment in the netherlands and the czech republic, which is way cheaper than the US or fertility treatment in Germany. But, I did buy my fertility medications on the economy here and sent in the receipts to tricare and they did reimburse for the full cost of the IVF meds. Before I bought the meds on the economy I went to my PCP and he would do nothing to help me, i.e. writing them in english to get them filled via express scripts and my not having to pay for them out of pocket. In the end we are successfully pregnant through treatment in the czech republic.

I am also a pt of Dr. Lauffer's. It is true the program was put on hold for contract negotations, but as of day before yesterday I received 'that' call! They are starting back up in November! DH and I have been trying to have a baby for over 5 years now and there may be an end in sight. Everything is covered cost wise with the acception of lab fees. Which can run between 2500 - 5000. A far cry from the 15,000 we were looking at if we could not get in and had to go the civilian route. So if any of you are on the waiting list at NTC San Diego there is hope in sight! And the rest of you, I really wish you the best in your quest to expand your family.

I have been on fertility treatment twice already with Dr. Laufer and so far my husband and I haven't been able to conceived. We really don't understand why if both of us are supposely in good health and not to mention that we already have a 10yr old son that we had without medications and we are trying for a second child and we hadn't had any luck. Does anyone here know about how long it takes for a treatment to actually work?

Hello all I am new to this site and currently am a member of Fertilethoughts.com (in which I was the board coordinator for the military forums there but had to step down due to schooling and so forth)...
I'm a current patient of Dr. Laufer here in San Diego and have been since 2006, in which I will be the 1st group of ladies doing FET to be scheduled next month (currently on BCPs).
A brief history about myself:
I and DH= 29 yo-Married for 9 years and counting :-)
We have been TTC with help for the past 9 yrs, since we have been married. Prior to that in HS and shortly thereafter (1996-1999) we had 6 natural pregnancies which we m/c (unknown reasons) during that time frame. Since have had ovulation problems due to lack of abnormal periods which began 2000.
PCOS/iummune issues has been ruled out
Tubal Ligation in Oct '06 to clamp damaged tube(hydrosalpinx)
We have had 3 failed IUIs/Clomid
1 D&C after miscarrying our son at 5 months in '97 (due to chorioamnionitis)
Hysteroscopy and Laproscopy in '02/06
1st ICSI- Dec '06---BFN 19eggs (12/4), 16 mature, 14 fertilized, 7 frozen at blast and 6d
1st FET- Mar '07---BFP ended in M/C at 6wks-April 2
2nd FET- Aug '07---BFP ended in M/C at 6wk5d on Sept 26th after confirmed hb of 127.
Natural blighted ovum pregnancy- April-July 08
3rd FET- Nov '08 (fingers crossed, heart sent to God to see this one through)....
So I'm just looking for additional support from local gals.

So here's to BFPs for all of us~

quote:

Originally posted by Militarybrat80:
Does anyone here know about how long it takes for a treatment to actually work?

What type of treatment are you doing (clomid, femara, follistim, timed intercourse, IUI...)? Usually for some patients providing that there is no uterine abnormalities, sperm/hormonal issues that is causing you not to concieve naturally it can take from 3-6 months. After 6 months the general rule is that clomid will not help and you need to have further intervention with injectibles or other treatment. Have you had the complete work-up (blood, hsg, saline sono, lap/hysteroscopy) done?

Pretty much everything but the transfer of sperm is covered. They will fix your body to act like a normal fertile body, but they will not make a baby.

Getting a referral to a treatment center is a matter of luck. Out of the 4 gyn's I've seen two of them have cared. The worst part of that pcs was leaving my doctor who was about to send me out to town. I got lucky and the first doctor I saw here made sure to note before he left, I had to go see a fertility doctor.
Tricare has sent me to one of the longest practicing doctors in the state. Now if I could just get my husband to stay on shore long enough for this to do some good...

Getting ready to do my last frozen embryo transfer from my 2006 IVF cycle with Dr. Laufer the week of November 18th. So I'm looking for any gals in the area to perhaps start a support group and also ask that you all pray for us.

I am on the Gonal-F injectables, my last one was doned on the 6th of October and I was hoping for us to be preagnant this coming month unfortunetly we are not I began my period today October 31st and my next treatment wont begin until Nov.17th in which I am having second thoughs of continuing with the treament and trying natural since on my last visit the doctor told me that I wa ovulating and well maybe I can try on my oen this time. I am praying to god it happens natural.

quote:

Originally posted by onenavy1wife:

quote:

Originally posted by Militarybrat80:
Does anyone here know about how long it takes for a treatment to actually work?

What type of treatment are you doing (clomid, femara, follistim, timed intercourse, IUI...)? Usually for some patients providing that there is no uterine abnormalities, sperm/hormonal issues that is causing you not to concieve naturally it can take from 3-6 months. After 6 months the general rule is that clomid will not help and you need to have further intervention with injectibles or other treatment. Have you had the complete work-up (blood, hsg, saline sono, lap/hysteroscopy) done?