The fertility law for cancer patients I discovered too late

Insight Host Vicki Gonzalez is dedicating the next show to talk about a hard lesson she learned during breast cancer treatment. 

Here is Vicki in her own words: 

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Over the past 10 months, I went through a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

I had just turned 40 years old. 

And this diagnosis came at an already painful time.

My husband and I were trying to have a child. And I had already gone through two back-to-back pregnancy losses.

So when I found out about my cancer, my mind immediately went to the dwindling window of opportunity to have a biological child.

Treatment would, of course, delay family planning. 

And I was particularly worried about what chemo would do to my fertility.

It was a desire and a concern that I brought up time and again during the whirlwind of doctor appointments.

There is a law in California meant to help cancer patients preserve their fertility and avoid the tens of thousands of dollars it would normally cost out of pocket. 

Senate Bill 600 was signed into law in 2019. 

It requires the majority of health insurers to cover fertility preservation, like egg and sperm banking, in the event that someone were to undergo a treatment that could cause infertility – like chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, I was never made aware of this state law ahead of cancer treatment last year. 

I only learned recently about this coverage and that I would have qualified had I known.

The consequences are irreparable.

Following chemo, I am in a menopausal state, meaning infertile. 

And finding out about this law, after the fact, has been devastating.

I’m sharing this with you because I don’t want anyone else to experience this. I want you to know what options are available and to know what questions to ask.

I did a ton of research following my diagnosis and did not come across this law on my own. Nor did I hear about it from any provider until it was too late.

So, I encourage you to join us on the next Insight.

The author of the law will join us about what inspired this legislation - and why Medi-Cal recipients are not included.  

We’ll also meet fertility advocates working to close the information gap, so that cancer patients know their options - especially when it can be the deciding factor in having a biological child. 

Talk to you then. 

You can listen to the full show here.