upcoming upcomings...

I find myself suddenly worked up about our upcoming IUI cycle. I am 12 DPO today (er, yesterday); my temp is dangerously close to my coverline and my uterus has been doing that you-might-want-to-carry-or-even-possibly-wear-a-pad thing all day.

We're supposed to go back to Birmingham for several different things. A few of which we've put off specifically to try and save a trip (or two). The Monkey needs to have his testosterone and other hormone levels rechecked. He also needs to have his CBC redone along with his fasting insulin (to make sure his metformin dosage is working properly). They'll also test his kidney and liver function (to make sure the met isn't, you know, killing him slowly). They'll also have him repeat his semen analysis to see if and how much the Clomid has helped. Fingers crossed that it has helped at least somewhat; hopefully significantly!

I need to have a repeat mycoplasma culture done. And also a baseline ultrasound and possibly bloodwork. Baseline ultrasounds on CD 2 or 3 are always a blast as many of you know. Poking around at a sore, swollen uterus with the dildo cam -- definitely my idea of a good time. [eyeroll] Also the mycoplasma culture means they will be torturing my cervix. Double the fun! But at least we won't have to drive to Birmingham three times in two weeks. They'll also do repeat blood draws on me and they need to recheck my thyroid to make sure my Synthroid dosage is still right.

My recent worries, however, are due to cost issues. Our insurance coverage has me completely confused. I looked at our claims statements from our first return visit to our RE and then my visit alone for my SIS procedure. Everything they did on The Monkey was covered at a rate of 90/10 -- our payment being the 10%. Everything they did on me -- including the SIS procedure -- was covered at a rate of 50/50. Now, color me confused because when the hell is a semen analysis done but to diagnose infertility?? So then I looked up our coverage details and found information showing that infertility "diagnosis and treatment" is supposed to be covered at the 90/10 rate with IUI covered at a rate of 50/50 and IVF/GIFT/ZIFT not being covered at all. (When I originally spoke with financial and gave them our new insurance info, this is the information I got from them as well.) So I do not understand the 50/50 rate. But then I found another summary of coverage that said the rate for infertility was 50/50 across. WTF?? I don't understand how that could be the case and they would charge the 90/10 rate for Tony's treatments. I haven't yet received any bills but I know they are coming. One will be for almost $200 for all my bloodwork, PAP, and mycoplasma culture. The second will be $125 for my SIS procedure. I know I probably shouldn't be bitching. I know that lots of people don't have infertility coverage period. And I am grateful that we have coverage! But when you are prepared to pay 10% of incurred costs and you're hit with 50% instead... well, you tend to get pissed off.

I am going to require at least five more blood draws (repeat fasting labs, baselines, mid-cycle labs around trigger time, a progesterone check, and a beta), a repeat mycoplasma culture (hopefully just one), and two ultrasounds. Tony is getting his fasting labs repeated and repeating his semen analysis. Then we have to pay for meds and the IUI itself (which are the only costs I'm actually sure of at this point). And this is not to mention the gas it's going to take to get to and from Birmingham (and then hopefully only Montgomery). I keep hearing "cha-ching... cha-ching..." in my head.

My temp dropped below my coverline this morning so I'm likely to start sometime today or tomorrow. CD 1 today means a trip to Birmingham on Thursday; CD 1 tomorrow means a trip to Birmingham on Friday. I really hope I don't start on Wednesday because I'm not sure what services they do on Saturdays and we're trying to make as few trips as humanly possible!

So I am hoping for a few things: 1) That I talk to my insurance company and they tell me that the rate is 90/10 and get things corrected. 2) That I start getting my SSDI check! 3) That this works on the first try and we can stop playing this song and dance for a while!!

Le sigh.