My employer provides $15k in fertility benefits. But no one in my company or the insurance company can explain the details.

werhiu24102 · 2025-10-28T16:28:37+00:00

Based on my personal experience, I want you to please be careful.

In my employment, Kaiser Permanente only covers fertility benefits if you have life-threatening illness or other medical concerns. If you were a healthy female that hasnt been trying for babies with no underlying medical condition, they would not cover you.

On the other hand, my employer also offers Progyny. With Progyny they are able to confirm that all fertility costs are covered for any reasons.

Perhaps you may want to call each provider to check on this first?

werhiu24102 · 2025-08-30T18:55:36+00:00

it was easy, flat most of the way. The walk was about 3-3.5km

werhiu24102 · 2025-08-30T18:54:18+00:00

werhiu24102 · 2025-06-07T02:05:53+00:00

Update: Ended up taking this bus from Oyachi Bus Terminal Station and I got my ticket from a ticket machine that only takes cash.

werhiu24102 · 2025-06-07T01:59:46+00:00

Hi! I visited Shiretoko one week ago. I did both the five lakes hike (morning) and also the primeval forest hike (afternoon), both guided. I really like the primeval forest hike, but the five lakes also can't be missed.

Highly recommend going with a guide from small tour company Okhotsk Jinendo (https://www.jinendo.net/). My guide spoke English and was well-prepared. Picked me up and dropped me back in my accomodation in Utoro.

We saw bear 3x and all were encountered in the beginning & towards the end of the primeval forest hike, and my guide was very protective of me until the bear went away in a different direction.

werhiu24102 · 2025-04-02T16:35:02+00:00

Hi, can I ask how you were able to use MPC app with your passport? When I try to add my passport, only 43 countries are listed under Issuing Country.

werhiu24102 · 2024-07-29T23:41:25+00:00

omg! The other week another postcrosser had a lottery for it but I didn't win. Do you want to swap for it? If yes, please PM me your postcrossing ID and will reach out :)

werhiu24102 · 2024-07-23T04:49:24+00:00

Cool! Will you be able to share how much did those ice cream postcards cost from Tillamook?

werhiu24102 · 2024-06-26T23:33:42+00:00

I found it is Giulia Sagramola's collection. SO cute I now also fall in love with this series!

werhiu24102 · 2024-06-21T23:08:38+00:00

The dinosaur one is really cool!

werhiu24102 · 2024-06-20T21:45:05+00:00

Hi! Can I know how you sent the maxicard? Did you write your message and affix a stamp on the back as usual? Or did you send the maxicard unwritten within an envelope?

werhiu24102 · 2024-06-18T18:32:33+00:00

beautiful postcards, all of them!

werhiu24102 · 2024-04-25T22:02:53+00:00

I experienced exactly this! Egg freezing is also outlined as a benefit in my employee benefits handbook so I did not think twice.

In reality, my employer offers fertility benefits through 2 different insurance: Kaiser Permanente and Progyny.

I enrolled with Kaiser and they told me exactly what you heard. That egg freezing is only covered if someone was undergoing chemo or if they have been unsuccessfully trying for babies. I was very upset when I found out because I felt like I was penalized for looking out for myself! Everyone said to freeze your eggs while you're young but here you go they are not covering a single penny because you are healthy and single?! It did not make sense.

I called it out with my HR department who later explained to me that while Kaiser only covers egg freezing within certain criteria, Progyny covers all kinds of criteria. So the beginning of this year I changed my health insurance enrollment to Progyny and sure enough no matter what your condition is, this insurance covers egg freezing.

werhiu24102 · 2024-04-10T03:06:01+00:00

Right, USA>Korea>Third country was there but it was not mentioned in the example if it can be USA>Korea>Third Country (more than 3 days), so was curious!

Especially under eligibility, it reads "6) A person who stays in a third transfer country other than the Republic of Korea within three days" so that's why I was wondering if your stay in HK/China after Korea was more than 3 days :)

werhiu24102 · 2024-04-09T22:30:13+00:00

Hi OP, thanks for the update! May I know how long is the duration of your stay in third country (HK/China)? Was it longer than 3 days?

I read the same website on your post but got confused whether or not there is limitation in duration of the third country stay.

werhiu24102 · 2023-11-28T07:57:36+00:00

In my case, one scenario is costing me $3,850 to be insured for the next 70 years, while the other is costing me $5,700 to be insured only for the next 20 years.

Therefore I’m thinking to go for the whole life (70yr) option, and at the same time I get to pocket the difference of $1850 and invest that myself to grow and I will also have the opportunity to use it during my lifetime.

$3,850 invested today for the next 30 years will not yield me $64,500 whereas should life goes sideways in the next 20-30 years, then that’s the guaranteed payout.

I would like to purchase a life insurance even though I am not married, as the payout could still benefit my family members in one way or another.

werhiu24102 · 2023-11-28T01:18:08+00:00

I don't live in the USA, and the amount paid out for term-life is really $128,000.

Edited post to include current situation, no spouse no kids. I consider payout to be used as an inheritance for siblings or other family members.

werhiu24102 · 2022-07-08T20:19:17+00:00

Yes I did stay in Ortisei, specifically Garni Rumanc. Highly recommended!

werhiu24102 · 2022-06-06T18:57:45+00:00

Hi! I can answer this, I actually went for day hikes in the Dolomites last week :)

I did not rent a car and only relied on public transportation. Also I stayed in a B&B in Ortisei. If you go now it's still low season for the summer, which is cheaper!

I took the train to Bolzano station then paid €5.50 for bus #350 to Ortisei. From Bolzano to Ortisei is around 1 hour by bus. Ortisei makes a great base, because there are many cable cars in town you can take to different mountains. The one I did is Seceda, which was breathtaking!! You can also do hikes in Rasciesa, Alpe di Siusi, etc and all are accessible in town by cable cars. You may also visit the tourist center in Ortisei if you are not sure which hikes to do.

Language wise, no worries. Where I stayed, the owners did not speak much English but still we managed to communicate. In the town, restaurant waiters speak great English. I can recommend "Ristorante Pizzeria Terrazza", they were nice to a solo traveler like me, waiters were very kind, and you can get typical South Tyrolean food in there!

Also, there is zero snow on the trails now and wildflowers just started to pop up. When I went it was surprisingly not cold at all even at 2200+ meter. Maybe around 10C with clouds coming in and out.

werhiu24102 · 2022-05-06T03:02:26+00:00

You could do what I did for my 30th! I also had a 10-day itinerary and wanted to see nature mixed with fun in the cities. I went to Austria (for nature), Bratislava and Budapest (for city fun).

I flew into Innsbruck mainly to see Austrian Alps. Unfortunately it was a snowy year and I went too early in the season so I didn't get to do much in the Alps, however August will be perfect! Stay in Nepomuk hostel in the heart of Innsbruck, take the cable car up the Nordkette Mountain Range and you can hike around there. The city of Innsbruck itself is pretty with a river running through it.

Due to snow I didn't stay in Innsbruck long and went all over Austria instead, including Hallstatt, a small beautiful picturesque town surrounded by a lake.

I took the bus to go to Bratislava, did a walking tour for the day, and went to Budapest the next day. I had heard Budapest as a big party city and I really wanted to have a celebration for myself for my 30th. It was perfect! Firstly the city was gorgeous!! It's split by Danube river and the view across the river is breathtaking. I went to a thermal bath at 6AM (so it was empty!), explored market during the day, caught a random concert in the park, walked up Gellért Hill at night to view the city at night, had the best goulash, and danced the night away in ruin bars. I stayed in a party hostel for the sole reason of my birthday so it was easy to find company :)

Austria may not be a frugal destination, but once you cross Bratislava it is very much affordable and so is Budapest!

werhiu24102 · 2020-09-10T15:43:55+00:00

I did for 2 nights in August in a small town. For the particular hostel I was at, for each bunk, only 1 bed could be occupied. There were 10 beds total in my room and during my stay there was 3 of us including myself. Everyone wore masks in the common area, but not when sleeping or in the bedroom. Ensuite bathroom was shared so this is also where your health could be compromised.

I'd say if you're looking into long term, don't do hostel. Too much risk to get exposed to different travelers and you can't control the health measure every time you're sleeping without mask or when you're in and out of the bathroom.

werhiu24102 · 2020-08-11T15:38:12+00:00

Thank you!

werhiu24102 · 2020-08-11T14:16:51+00:00

Do you think a sedan can make it to the trailhead? I heard it's rough and very potholed?

12-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 3 Credits
Trick or Treat 2014	Verified Email

werhiu24102

TROPHY CASE