Big thank you to WBZ-TV

On Monday, when I found out that Blue Cross Blue Shield wasn’t going to help me or any other chemotherapy patient to preserve fertility, I was pretty upset.  Enough so, that I contacted my local news media outlets for help.

Joe Shortsleeve, of WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston, read my story and called to hear me out.  After agreeing to send a news crew for a televised interview at Dana-Farber tomorrow, Joe placed a call into Blue Cross Blue Shield to get an official comment.

The response was “Tell us who the patient is, and if we cover his expenses, ask him if he will drop the story”.

My response (in the 2nd call with Joe) “You can tell them who I am, but I’d rather run the story- this effects every chemo patient, and I’ve already accepted that I have to pay for my sperm banking”.

Within 30 minutes, I received a phone call from Blue Cross Blue Shield.  The representative stated “Good news, we just had a meeting.  As of October 1, 2009, all Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members who undergo a treatment that could cause infertility, will be covered for fertility treatments.  Men will be allowed to bank sperm and women will be allowed to bank eggs for two years for a future pregnancy.  We are also going to pay for your sperm banking costs that you have already incurred.”

On that note, it is time for bed- I need to wake up at 4 AM tomorrow for my first chemo treatment.