SHOULD HEALTH-INSURANCE COVER IVF - ISSUES AND OPTIONS

Authors
Citation
Pj. Neumann, SHOULD HEALTH-INSURANCE COVER IVF - ISSUES AND OPTIONS, Journal of health politics, policy and law, 22(5), 1997, pp. 1215-1239
Citations number
69
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Legal","Heath Policy & Services","Social Issues
ISSN journal
03616878
Volume
22
Issue
5
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1215 - 1239
Database
ISI
SICI code
0361-6878(1997)22:5<1215:SHCI-I>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
An emotional debate has attended the question of whether health insura nce should cover the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for infertil e couples. Some private health plans have opted to cover IVF, although most have not. Ten states have mandated that it be included or offere d as a standard benefit for private health insurance plans. This artic le analyzes several key issues in the debate: the impact of insurance coverage; the cost-effectiveness of IVF; valuing the benefit of IVF; a nd adoption as an alternative. It recommends policy action in several areas: more efficiently allocating resources for IVF (by giving priori ty to couples with better chances of success, and by making more exten sive use of facilities with higher success rates); ensuring that clear and reliable information about the effectiveness of IVF is available; and leveling the playing field between IVF and adoption.