The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that in the United States today, 1 in 5 married women of childbearing age with no prior births are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Treatment for infertility continues to be an imperative for many, and the number of individuals seeking reproductive assistance is growing.
That’s why Evernorth Health Services, which operates Freedom Fertility by Evernorth, is proud to expand its reach and ability to support even more patients through its recent addition of VFP Pharmacy Group. The addition brings together the capabilities of two of the most experienced fertility pharmacies in the country. Evernorth will continue to bring industry-leading expertise and now an even more comprehensive fertility solution to patients, providers, and other stakeholders nationwide.
We recently spoke with Kajaal Patel, director of product strategy at Freedom Fertility Pharmacy, to discuss the fertility market today, what makes Evernorth’s fertility pharmacy capabilities best in class, and how Evernorth continues to evolve to meet the needs of fertility patients.
What are some of the top challenges that fertility patients are facing?
Fertility patients can face a variety of challenges throughout their journey. These include emotional, financial, and practical challenges. For example, the diagnosis of infertility can lead to feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. It can put a strain on relationships and mental health. Additionally, cost can be an issue. Fertility medications can be expensive, and patients with no or limited health insurance coverage could face the prospect of high out-of-pocket costs for treatment. Access is another challenge. As more patients seek fertility treatment, finding clinicians can prove to be difficult, particularly outside of major cities. Within Evernorth, we are working every day to address these challenges and help patients.
What factors do you believe are contributing to the growing number of people seeking fertility treatment?
While no two fertility patients are the same, we see some general themes. For instance, some individuals are choosing to wait longer to begin their families. In some cases, this can make it harder to conceive naturally. Lifestyle factors, such as the increasing occurrence of chronic health conditions, are also playing a factor. Additionally, we are seeing more same-sex couples and single people desiring – and taking action to have – children.
If I take a step back, I also think there has been a cultural shift toward greater acceptance of assisted reproductive services and reduced stigmatization associated with seeking these services. For example, we’re seeing more fertility stories in the news, more celebrities speaking about their fertility journeys, as well as discussion of the topic on social media channels.
How is Evernorth positioned to support patients on their fertility journey?
Freedom Fertility by Evernorth has more than 30 years of fertility expertise. We deliver care, compassion, and peace of mind to patients undergoing time-sensitive and highly customized treatment. Additionally, we do much more than deliver medications. Our comprehensive model at Evernorth enables us to support patients, as well as their providers, throughout every step of the fertility journey.
With the addition of VFP Pharmacy Group, our ability to support fertility patients is now even stronger.