AOK More money for artificial insemination

AOK more strongly subsidizes artificial insemination

06/26/2013

In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse AOK pays in future about three quarters of the costs for artificial insemination IVF.

Three million children through test tube fertilization
From July, the AOK Baden-Württemberg women will pay 75 percent of the costs for the first three IVF treatments. For IVF (in vitro fertilization - Latin for „Fertilization in the glass“) is an artificial insemination, which is used since 1978 in the treatment of unmet need for children. Since then, three million children have been born worldwide using test tube fertilization. For the cost subsidy, which was previously at 50 percent, both partners must be insured in the Southwest AOK. The board of directors of the state AOK had decided on a corresponding change in the statutes and the age limits for the patients should be lifted. According to the law, it is only possible for women up to the age of 40 to pay the costs. Above this age, the doctor must confirm the success of an IVF. No health risks can be expected.

Same-sex civil partnerships included
The new regulation could also be used by women living in a same-sex civil partnership. Prerequisites are that both partners are insured with the AOK Baden-Wuerttemberg and that there are legitimate chances of success through the treatment. The AOK estimates the claims for reimbursement of artificial insemination treatment costs at 2,500 to 3,000 per year. Günter Güner, current chairman of the AOK board of directors, said that the increased subsidy should help to ensure that treatment is not primarily dependent on money. Only the AOK Rhineland-Palatinate offers within the AOK group a higher support for unfulfilled desire for children.

Pregnant women get paid non-prescription remedies
The health insurance company also announced that the approximately 30,000 pregnant women of the AOK Baden-Württemberg would also receive certain non-prescription pharmacy-only medicines. This includes drugs that contain the active ingredients iron, magnesium and / or folic acid as monosupport or combination preparations. These medications could be prescribed by the doctor on a green prescription and then the health insurance company will reimburse them 100 per cent. In order to ensure the best possible care of the baby in the mother's stomach, additional nutrients are often required. Michaela Bänsch, nutritionist and lecturer at the German University for Prevention and Health Management in Saarbrücken, explained: „The folic acid requirement of pregnant women is 100 percent higher than in any other phase of life. "(Ad)

Image: Thommy Weiss