To: The Hawaii State House, The Hawaii State Senate, and Governor David Ige
In Vitro Fertilization Coverage Equality for All Women.
End Hawaii's 28 year history of discrimination against women diagnosed with infertility by demanding equal protection and equal access to the Hawai`i mandated In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) insurance coverage. Encourage the Hawai`i legislature to uphold the Hawai`i Constitution and remove the requirement of marriage and the use of the "patient's spouse's sperm" from the present IVF procedure coverage - Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS) ยง 431:10A-116.5.
Why is this important?
I was diagnosed with infertility and was denied my IVF health insurance benefit from the Hawaii Medical Services Association (HMSA) because I was not married. As a result, I was forced to pay out of pocket for my IVF procedure while married women using their spouse's sperm, civil union couples and same-sex married couples using donor's sperm were allowed the benefit.
Infertility does not discriminate, and the right of a woman to access her health benefits to support her decision relating to procreation shall be free of unjustified government interference according to the Hawai`i Constitution. The right to health and family belongs to all women, equally.
One woman, all women. One family, all families.
Infertility does not discriminate, and the right of a woman to access her health benefits to support her decision relating to procreation shall be free of unjustified government interference according to the Hawai`i Constitution. The right to health and family belongs to all women, equally.
One woman, all women. One family, all families.