cost

[tiff912]

We haven't got to the point of IVF yet. However, I am always looking at all the other avenues we may try. I found out it could cost $8,000-$20,000. There is no way we can afford that on our own. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[angieleto]

I've currently on my 1st IVF cycle and I'm begining to realized why it is so costly. Basically from the time of ER to ET the embryologist works together on with your doc to monitor and assess your embryos. It's a 24 hour process, not to mention the surgery and meds.

Have you checked into your perscription coverage plan and your detailed health coverage plan? The only reason I asked is because I never new I had coverage for infertility treatments. I also never new that my perscription coverage also offered assistance. I had to ask becuase they definately don't advertise this.

I feel very fortunate that I have 25k max for infertility medical coverage and 25k max in perscription coverage. I heard of some women looking for a new job with companies that have this type of coverage. Also, depending on where you live, some states offer assistance. Some clinics offer payment plans, just don't be afraid to ask...chances are there is some sort of financial help out there!

Wishing you all the best!

Angie

[tiff912]

Yes, I have checked with our insurance. They don't cover getting you pregnant but do cover treatments to fix the problem such as my surgery for endo. Our drug plan has covered our meds so far.

[angieleto]

You might want to check into ARC. They offer a bunch of different financing options: www.arcfertility.com.

That's great you have drug coverage. My 1st cycle meds were over 4k.

Good luck - Angie

[hopeful-in-LV]

My insurance covered all he diagnostic procedures, even surgery when my RE removed a few pollops (sp?) in my uterus and meds before IVF such as BC pills. My ins even covered all my progesterone. I charged the rest of my meds to my Discover card, which has 0% interest for the next 6 months. For the IVF procedure we put everything on Care Credit. It's company that gives credit specifically for medical expenses. Many Doctor's offices, dentist and Vets will accept it. Ask your clinic about it. Care credit has a varriety of payment plans. Ours is 18 months no interest. It goes up alot after 18 mos, like 20% interest. but we're going to pay as much as we can before 18 months and hopefully find a 0% loan or credit card to transfer the rest. All together we owe $15,000 for IVF and Meds. But we don't have a car payment and we've paid down a lot of our other credit card debt. There are creative ways to manage it. It depends if you're willing to do it. Good luck!

[jen5nik]

I don't know if you own a home? Home equity line of credit that is how I am going to finance my IVF. Not only do you get to deduct the medical expenses on taxes you get to deduct the interest from the line of credit and the interest rate is 7%.
Just a thought!

Jen in Arizona

[Malinka]

my prescription plan doesn't cover Gonal F and Novalex, so I am looking close to 2K +total cost for my 1st cycle.
I was wondering if anybody knows of any payment plans for the meds...
thought credit card with "0%" sounds like a very good idea

[cbaker111]

Another options is trying to find a clinic in another country, where medical costs are always MUCH less and care can be just as good. I just had my cycle done in Brazil by an English-speaking MD who did some training at Columbia and works with an embryologist who is also affiliated with Columbia. The cost excluding meds was about $3400 - with meds I think it probably came to closer to $4700 but that is still significantly cheaper. Even if you add in airfare and hotel. I had embryos to freeze and that was another $600, more or less. I know some people go to South Africa as apparently the care is also good there, everyone speaks English obviously and costs are much lower. My ex-RE who used to practice at Long ISland College Hospital and is very good is now practicing in Greece, where he charges about $3000 for a cycle.
One other suggestion is to look at Flexible Health Care Spending accounts, if your employer offers that. You elect how much you want to pay into it each year up to a maximum of $5,000 and then a little is taken out of each paycheck to cover it. The advantages are that you don't have to pay taxes on the money, so if you sign up for $5,000, the amount that actually ends up coming out of your pocket is about $3500 and that it is the equivalent of an interest free loan as you can use all $5,000 on January 2 if you want - you don't have to wait to accumulate all the amount from deductions from your paycheck before you can use it. You can spend this anywhere in the world, so if you went to Brazil for example and spent about $5,000 on a cycle, your out of pocket sosts using this would be about $3500.
Good luck!
Claudia
me 41, DH 39
3 failed IUIs
1st IVF, 9/05, negative
natural pregnancy 10/05 m/c at 8 weeks
2nd IVF, 8/06, BFP on 8/22/06! please stick this time!!

[EYCI]

We paid for EVERYTHING out of pocket and needed an home equity loan to pay for it. However, when you consider that you would be spending just as much on a car loan, this seemed SO MUCH MORE WORTH IT.

We were able to take advandtage of our companies flex spending accounts so that some of the money was tax free. That certainly helps.

Also, check to see if you clinic has an "insurance" program. You pay more up front, but are guaranteed a certain number of cycles. If you don't end up with a live birth after the specified number of attempts, you will get back a huge portion of your money. Every insurance program is different so you'll want to check around on that. My RE offers a program where you get 3 fresh cycles for $18,000 (doesn't include meds) and if that fails, you get back 90% of your money.

Good luck!