21.  Insurance companies say that they do not mean to discriminate against women, but that covering fertility treatments is too expensive.

22.  Infertility, they say, is a disease, like diabetes or emphysema, whose treatment should be covered by any basic insurance policy.

23.  It was championed by doctors and hospitals who said insurers routinely delayed paying claims covering medical treatment of patients.

24.  --make health plans disclose their policies for determining whether to cover experimental treatments such as bone marrow transplants.

25.  Many insurance companies cover allergy treatments, including testing, shots and prescription medications, although some require a referral from a primary-care physician.

26.  Medicaid currently covers drug treatments only for people who have developed full-blown AIDS.

27.  Medicare and Medicaid do not cover obesity treatment, Stern said.

28.  Now, doctors ask managed care administrators first whether certain treatments are covered.

29.  Pricing for the drug is important because there is slim hope that the cosmetic treatment will be covered under most health insurance plans.

30.  Regular Medicare does not cover medical treatment outside the United States, except for limited emergency cases involving travel in Mexico or Canada.