Aetna US Healthcare Cuts Infertility Benefits

Aetna US Healthcare, a pioneer in covering infertility treatment, will eliminate benefits for advanced infertility procedures such as in-vitro fertilization, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The Blue Bell, Pa.-based health insurer, the nation’s largest, said it is acting because too many people were attracted to its plans only to take advantage of the the expensive treatment. “Women were enrolling in Aetna US Healthcare, obtaining the benefit and leaving the program,” said Arnold Cohen, Aetna’s corporate medical director for women’s health. The change affects in-vitro fertilization; gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer and embryo cryopreservation, Cohen said. Because of its expense (about $6,000 to $12,000), in-vitro fertilization is often a couple’s last resort after failing to conceive a child.