National Infertility Week: The push for mandated insurance coverage for Wisconsinites

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Monday marks the beginning of National Infertility Week and many Wisconsinites are pushing for mandated insurance coverage for infertility treatment. Many health professionals consider infertility to be a disease.

For too many families, the financial burden is the greatest challenge they must overcome to fulfill their dreams of parenthood.

Experts say infertility affects one in six individuals globally and more than 172,000 families in Wisconsin.

On Monday, The Building Families Alliance of Wisconsin hosted a conversation with patients, providers and advocates on the importance of removing financial barriers for those who live in the state.

"An average in vitro fertilization or IVF cycle in the United States is $15,000," said Betsy Campbell, chief engagement officer at Resolve-- National Infertility Association. "A recent study found that women of reproductive age accrued $30,000 of debt on average after undergoing treatment...we work with countless men and women who have been forced to sell their homes, go into credit card debt or perhaps most tragic of all, abandon their hopes of becoming parents."

According to The Building Families Alliance of Wisconsin, "infertility does not discriminate – it cuts across all socioeconomic levels, and all racial, ethnic, and religious lines."

The organization explained that there are a number of reasons why this occurs, including: injuries, wounds sustained in combat, medical condition, or treatment for other conditions such as cancer, sickle cell anemia, type 1 diabetes, or other auto-immune diseases.

In addition, LBGTQ+ families are often faced with extra layers of barriers including medical, legal, and limited access on how they can pursue a family.

Due to cost, experts said only one in four people end up getting the treatment.

Governor Tony Evers has included in his proposed budget a requirement for insurance plans to cover infertility treatments and fertility preservation, like border state Illinois has had for the last 30 years.

"Being seen in Chicago actually saved me thousands of dollars compared to going into my clinic's office in Wisconsin, so nearly every day for eight weeks, I got up at 4:30 in the morning, and I drove to Chicago and I got a blood drawn and an ultrasound, and I drove home, and I started my work day," explained Kathy Waligora, who successfully had a baby about a year ago thanks to IVF.

More than 650 people are pushing for state leaders to keep that provision in their state budget and make sure that people no longer have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket.