Baroness von Barrenness

Dutch health insurance

The Netherlands recently began requiring ALL Dutch citizens to have health insurance. Above and beyond the most basic level of insurance we're required to purchase, we have three options for additional coverage. The highest level appears to include full coverage of a first attempt at IVF. We may no longer be considering IVF, but I'm guessing it means that it would also cover diagnosis of whatever is actually wrong with me and attempts to treat it before resorting to IVF again.

The additional cost of this highest level of coverage? About $22/month. !!!

That's not much considering the cost of doctor's visits, tests, hormones/medication, etc. But I'm also trying to pick through the fine print regarding what prescriptions are and aren't covered and what women's health care treatment is like over here.

-The Barrenness

I've moved!

I've moved literally and virtually!

We've been in the Netherlands for a week and a half and have spent most of our time just trying to get settled in and riding bikes. The good news is that our work permits arrived yesterday, so we're legal and can start drawing paychecks again (to pay for our new bikes)!

In the meantime, this blog has taken a back seat to my new blog about adjusting to life in the Netherlands - Krees Goes Dutch. It's a fitting parallel for infertility starting to take a back seat to just living the rest of my life. It's not as anonymous as this blog since I'm using it explicitly as a way to keep friends and family up-to-date - and specifically to keep my mother from freaking out about me. I may still post here occasionally if I have something to say that's specifically related to fertility. But now that most of our acquaintances are also aware of our struggles to conceive, I may just post openly over there.

I hope you'll pop over to see me at the new place. And if you're ever in the Netherlands, drop me a note!

-The Barrenness