Rest Assured: You've Got (Infertility) Insurance (Tuesday)

(Start with "Monday" if you can. I mentioned Denmark yesterday. Any country whose people are named after a gooey breakfast treat is okay by me.) So, what were we talking about? Oh right. How the good infertile people of Denmark are on the eve of losing their access to free fertility treatments.

Once people have to pay for the expensive treatments,  I wonder what will happen to their number of children born via assisted reproductive technologies. Right now, the numbers are high: 8-10 percent of all total births in Denmark. That makes it almost, sort of, commonplace. I wonder if it's just a normal part of conversation over there.

"Wow, I can't believe you were conceived at the Haagen Dazs lab! I spent the first two weeks of my life in that lab! Who was your embryologist? Small world!"

"Did you buy the yearbook? I'm 21;  Class of '89."

"I went to the ten year reunion. All of the moms had to drive us. I mean, you know, we were only ten...We all had to wear pictures of what we looked like back then. It was pretty embarrassing. I didn't recognize many people. It's amazing how much people change in ten years. At least we didn't have to wear name tags--except the multiples. Baby A  I knew from second grade but Baby B was in a different class."   

"You don't mind needles? I hate needles. Oh right, you didn't have ICSI. Man, did that hurt like a son of a .... A little pinch, yeah right. They got me right in the ear lobe. It's still sore when I wear earrings."  

"Do you find that extremely cold weather doesn't bother you? If it's like -196 degrees Celsius outside, I don't even need a sweater."

I'm afraid that we in the U.S. still have a long way to go before we'll be able to discuss our infertility issues and outcomes so openly.  And maybe money is a part of it. But it makes no sense. We run to let everyone know we spent $60,000 on a shiny new car, but would be ashamed to tell you we spent that much trying for a shiny new baby.  

Of course we're also living in the Country where fifty-six year old celebrities have twins "naturally"... only in the U.S.... and People magazine.

Listen, I gotta go. All this week I'm working on my open enrollment insurance at work. I have to decide whether my husband should have health insurance next year or power steering in his car and tires with tread on them.  I'd better check if the insurance covers skidding off the road and into a ditch. I probably should also renew our AAA while I'm at it.

I'll talk with ya again tomorrow.