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Together we can mandate that infertility
insurance is available to everyone
in Texas!
Your help is needed!!!
Get Involved and Let Your Voice Be Heard Now!
Congratulations to RESOLVE of New Jersey in your victory. Along with the bill sponsors, your tireless efforts to get this mandate passed will help many people in their family-building efforts.
On Thursday June 28, 2001, the New Jersey House of Representatives passed the Family Building Act (S1076). The bill, which requires medical insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, originally passed the Senate on March 26th, 2001 and then sent to the House for a vote. The mandate is now awaiting Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco’s signature to become a law. The signing of the bill will occur in the next 45 days.
Grass roots efforts (mailing letters, making phone calls, petitions etc.) by the RESOLVE NJ members was the reason why their bill got to the Governor's desk and what they felt was the most important reason why legislators felt emotionally charged to help get this bill passed.
H.R. 662, The Hope for Children Act-Victory!
"The Hope for Children Act", doubles the current tax credit to $10,000 for couples who adopt children and adjusts the current credit to make it more accessible to families who adopt children from foster care. In addition to extending and doubling the adoption credit, the Hope for Children Act adjusts the tax code to include families who adopt children with special needs. The passage of the amendment, which was sponsored by Sens Landrieu (D-LA) and Larry Craig (R-ID), Senate co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, marks the end of a two year effort by leaders of the adoption coalition. The bill now goes to a joint House-Senate Conference where final details will be worked out, approved by both chambers, and then sent to the President for signature.
- S. 874, The Fair Access to Infertility Treatment & Hope Act of 2001[FAITH]
This bill requires all health plans to cover the diagnosis and treatments of infertility. The bill was introduced by Senator Robert G. Torricelli on May 14, 2001, and was sent to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
S. 874 limits the required coverage of assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, GIFT, ZIFT) to 4 completed cycles, except if there is a live birth, then 2 additional cycles must be covered following that birth.
As of mid May, S 874 has one sponsor.
- H.R. 389, The Family Building Act of 2001
This bill requires all health plans to cover the diagnosis and treatments of infertility. The bill was introduced by Congressman Anthony David Weiner on January 13, 2001, and was sent to the House Commerce Committee, the House Government Reform Committee, and the House Committee and Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 389 limits the required coverage of assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, GIFT, ZIFT) to 4 completed cycles, except if there is a live birth, then 2 additional cycles must be covered following that live birth.
As of mid-May, HR 389 has 22 co-sponsors.
- H.R. 1246, To Amend Chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code
This bill requires federal employees’ health plan to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. The bill was introduced by Congressmen Marty Meehan on March 27, 2001, and was sent to the House Government Reform Committee.
H.R. 1246 limits the required coverage of assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, GIFT, ZIFT) to 4 completed cycles, except if there is a live birth, then 2 additional cycles must be covered following that birth.
As of mid-May H.R 1246 has 32 sponsors.
- H.R. 568, Equity in Fertility Coverage Act of 2001
This bill requires all health plans to cover impotency medications and as well as fertility treatments. The bill was introduced by Congressmen Robert Andrews on February 13, 2001, and was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Education Committee and House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
As of mid May, HR 568 has 1 sponsor.
Get Involved and Let Your Voice Be Heard Now!
Here's how you can help yourself, friends, relatives etc. DON'T WAIT!
Write or call your
federal state officials for support and sponsorship of the existing bills to create
building laws specifically for Texas to gain insurance benefits.
( You can download sample letters below, or select your choice of senator/representative
and click on their names to download the letter to the selected senator/representative.)
Find Your Federal Elected Officials:
| Sample Letter to Texas U.S. Senator | Or select name of your Senator/Governor/President: |
Phil Gramm Kay Bailey Hutchison Governor Rick Perry President George Bush |
| Sample Letter to Texas U.S. House of Representatives | Or choose Your Federal House Representative: | John A. Culberson Sheila Jackson-Lee Ken Bentsen Gene Green |
| Sample Script to Texas U.S. Senator | Or choose Your Senator/Governor/President: |
Phil Gramm Kay Bailey Hutchison Governor Rick Perry President George Bush |
| Sample Script to Texas U.S. House of Representatives | Or choose Your Federal House Representative: |
John A. Culberson Sheila Jackson-Lee Ken Bentsen Gene Green |
Contact your state officials for support and sponsorship of a bill to create building laws specifically for Texas to gain insurance benefits.
Find Your State Elected Officials
| Addresses and Phone Numbers of Texas State Senators |
| Addresses and Phone Numbers of Texas State House of Rep |
International Adoption Bill for Texas Residents
Background: Currently Texas parents of internationally adopted children are required to "re-adopt" their child/children upon entering Texas. Several months ago a bill was introduced to eliminate the "re-adoption" requirement. Well, it sounds like it passed and now it just needs to be signed off by Governor Rick Perry.
If you are interested in supporting the signature of this bill please call Governor Rick Perry's office or write to have him support the signature of this bill.Contact Info: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact
Advocacy Day is May 1, 2003 at the 2003 National Chapter Leadership Conference in Arlington, VA at the Crystal City Marriott.
- Med-Care Plus gives you medical discounts on things that aren't covered on your insurance, such as infertility. (http://www.med-careplus.com)
- List of Infertility Friendly Employers &Insurance Carriers (http://if.freehosting.net/)
- American Society of Reproductive Medicine State Infertility Insurance Laws (http://asrm.com/Patients/insur.html)
- Integramed Treatment Financing (http://www.integramed.com/financing/financing.htm)
- Fertile Thoughts Insurance & Advocacy Bulletin Board (http://www.fertilethoughts.net/infertility/)
- Discount Fertility Worldwide Pharmacies (http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/drugs.html)
- Understanding Fertility Medication (http://www.fertilitext.org/p3_pharmacy/medication.html)
- National Institute of Health Clinical Research Studies (http://clinicaltrials.gov/)
- Texas Department of Insurance (http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/)
- National Council for Adoption (http://www.ncfa-usa.org/)
- National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (http://www.calib.com/naic/)
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/)
- Families Adopting Children Everywhere (http://www.face2000.org/)
- Families for Private Adoption (http://www.ffpa.org/)
- Insurance Coverage Clarification Sample Letter (insurance_coverage.doc)
P.O. Box 441212
Houston, Texas 77244-1212
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