"Getting Insurance to Cover PCOS!!! READ THIS!!!"

[doublegwammy]

This is really frustrating to read, simply because I just don't understand how PCOS became synonymous with infertility issues. I am 24, single, and living on my own and have no interest in becoming pregnant any time soon. I was diagnosed when I was in high school because of the serious depression I was suffering from. To be honest, even on these message boards I become extremely frustrated with all the talk of pregnancy. I would love to be able to go to a doctor that understands that having PCOS IS a big deal to me NOW, not just in the future if I ever want to conceive. Isn't there anyone else who is in this boat with me!?!?!

I can understand your frustration. Luckily for me, I don't have a ton of symptoms associated with PCOS, mainly the excess hair (which I maintain lol) and weight issues (which I fight), but even though I was diagnosed with PCOS over a decade ago, my dr has never even tried to do anything to help me. Only now that I'm trying to conceive is it even an issue in his eyes. I wonder why that is??? PCOS is a very real disease and has very real, sometimes embarassing, symptoms and side effects. You would think doctors would understand that and want to help, regardless of whether a woman is interested in having kids, now or ever. I'm sorry these boards seem to be fertility driven. I've actually kinda thought they are too (which is of interest to me, but I can understand your frustration). I have seen posts of women who aren't trying to get pregnant, so I know you aren't alone! Keep looking around. Start a thread of your own too and see what other "cysters" you have that in common with so you can keep up with each other and give advice.

[mystique1772]

united health care.I got lucky in the fact that i wasn't diagnosed wit pcos til i was referred to an re while on uhc.And my first dr b 4 uhc also took uhc so they hav all my records with all the symptoms and problems but never the diagnosis. so it wasn't a pre existing condition..

[Overstressedmom]

Not sure if this is the place to ask but my daughter was just dx'ed with PCOS and I am wondering when she going out into the world will this prevent her from getting future medical ins.? Should I have her Dr. 'hide' the dx?

[PetiteFlower]

That's not legal and not really necessary anyway. Even the way things are now, you can always get insurance through your job if it's offered, even if you have a pre-existing condition and the policy excludes pre-existing conditions (not all do), the longest they can exclude treatment is a year. But come 2014, ALL insurance companies, even non-employer sponsored plans, will no longer be allowed to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, and everyone will be able to get coverage somewhere (that's the theory anyway). By the time she's grown, if we are lucky, we will all have universal health care and won't have to worry about any of this crap!

[Overstressedmom]

I didn't know that, Thank you for the info...

[JulieofDenial]

I my endo is a pro. She diagnosed me with PCOS, hyperprolactinemia, and hyperandrogenism. :-D

[SLM322]

Thank you for this. Its helpful as insurance is giving me issues from ttc for only 10 months, but I have symptoms of PCOS NOW.

[cysterless]

I am on medi-cal and I can't get any coverage for fertility testing. I used to have some help with acne medication but it was not fully covered, and now my plan has changed. Hopefully it still helps cover that. I'm pretty sure any treatments that directly attack hair loss will not be covered. I wonder if I point out the linkage with my diagnosis of PCOS if somehow this will help my coverage.

Also, quick question--I'm thinking about speaking to my dermatologist about hair loss either way. Is that the right person to see for this issue?