How do you afford it?

tapio · Post by **tapio** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:44 pm

After 2 failed IUI's our doctor has told us to look into other options which are more aggressive. What we've come to see is that IVF's are incredible expensive and it seems most insurance companies don't cover any part of the procedure.

How are so many people able to afford IVF? Seems many of you have had multiple. I'd understand if it was a 1 time cost which was guaranteed to work but it's a huge sum for just an increased chance of becoming pregnant.

$20,000 seems to be the going rate (in AZ). Am I missing something here or are the options which my doctor hasn't explained to me because in the end fertility is just a business for him to make $$$?

lisa10 · Post by **lisa10** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:56 pm

$20,000 seems high to me unless you are doing shared risk. My place is about $10,000 for self pay plus drugs. My insurance actually covers the drugs, but not the procedures. They also cover monitoring and appointments, so my cost is even less. I don't know why they cover this. I think it has been an oversight, but I'll take what I can get.

Some clincs have tirals for free if you qualify and are willing to wait. You may want to ask.

Miner_79 · Post by **Miner_79** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:07 pm

I am sorry to hear about your struggles. I just want to let you know of a couple of options off the top of my head.
1. Low interest loans- some even have 0% apr for a certain # of months before they tack on interest.
2. Studies- depending on your diagnosis there are a number of studies that you can join if applicable.
3. Depending on your egg quality there are programs where other couples that don't have good quality and need donor eggs will pay for a part if not the entire cycle for half of your eggs. I can't remember what they call it but you get the just of it.
4.Save, save, save.. Set a budget and keep to it.
These are just a few. I can share with you that the clinic that I went to had a counselor that we spoke with to lay out the option that was best for us.. Like Lisa10 our insurance company only paid for med and monitoring visits. That left $9000 dollars out of our pockets to pay.. We found a 0% apr for 18 months that suited us.. Hope this helps.- Chris

tapio · Post by **tapio** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:55 pm

I'll look into studies if there are any in the area.

I don't think we'd qualify for any donor program as my wife's FSH levels are very high. So high that we don't even qualify for the money back guarantee program through our doctor (you can recoop 80% of the IVF cost if you don't become pregnant). He honestly made everything seem extremely doom and gloom to the point whre I'm afraid to spend that kind of money on an IVF when even that may be a long shot. (he wouldnt give percentages or anything..was always vague which drives me nuts) I understand the need to not give false hope because this is such an emotional experience for many women but he also has to understand theres a huge financial cost here and I like to hear solid numbers, statistics, etc to help make this kind of decision.

My first instinct was to look into rates in Mexico as we're so close but my wife seems terrified about that prospect. It's also very hard to find information about IVF there. The only info I found related to one clinic in Mexicali and thats about it.
I woulda guessed there would be a treasure trove of info. Medical tourism has become a large industry and fertility is one of those emotional grey areas insurance companies don't want to pay for so I figured the industry for it to be large.

Miner_79 · Post by **Miner_79** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:22 pm

There are a lot of women on this site that go to different country to have IVF done. I have seen some as far away as Serbia. If there is not a lot of info on Mexico maybe look into Canada... In most cases the cost of airfare and hotel will be the greatest cost from what I have read. Do you mind if I ask what the cause of your infertlity is? you would be suprised what kind of studies they have out there. Medications, protocals, ect.
I hate to hear that the doc is talking doom and gloom. Try and understand that a great deal of these doc are all about the #'s. ($ and success rates.) They have lost site of the most imporant thing, the patient. Good ole socialized medicine.

Don't lose hope though... There are a still a lot of great docs out there. You are just going to have to meet with a few to find the right fit.. I would not settle. Sorry if I am long winded it just really bothers me that we struggle like this and I want to share all that I know in order to help. - Chris

Warren Dew · Post by **Warren Dew** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:56 pm

For us, we could afford it because we both work.

While IVF is expensive, bringing up a child is even more expensive. We figured that if we could afford the child, we could afford the IVF.

kristyb · Post by **kristyb** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:01 pm

We have been lucky that my husband's insurance covers a good portion of it and we too both work and have been saving.

Additionally, if you are getting only these kinds of negative comments from this one doctor, I would highly recommend second opions. There are a lot of great doctors out there and a lot of women do travel all over the world for the best treatement.

Good luck!

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:18 pm

our RE offers different programs.
1 cycle for $8,500 + meds and 2 cycles (if first fails) for #12,500 and so on.

I guess $20,000 is one of the most expensive clinics I heard of and we are living in CA.

We are lucky to have at least 5 IVF clinics in our area so I looked them all up and went to the info session until we found the RE we liked the most professionally and personally.

ck121 · Post by **ck121** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:36 am

$20,000 does sound like a lot! Our IVF cost a total of $14,000 but we had to do ICSI so $10,000 of it was the treatment, $2,000 was meds and the rest was freezing of the embryos.

We were able to afford it by taking out loans from our 401k's and savings.

Good luck!

jenice · Post by **jenice** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:00 am

Tapio, a friend of mine in PA just did a cycle for $8,500.It included meds and everything she had no coverage @ all. Look around I've heard some places are having deals cause with the recession it has affected people reproducing.My friend is pregnant from that cycle.Do some research you may have to travel or may be closer than you think. I fortunately have insurance and just failed 1st cycle and was cancelled 2 previous cycles.Might be doing FET soon.Good Luck!!!

jenn913 · Post by **jenn913** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:11 am

Our insurance covers up to $15,000. All we have to pay is the co-pay for the meds, which this cycle is $40. We are very fortunate, otherwise we would not be able to do IVF at the moment! $20,000 sounds high to me. My RE (and he is on of the top REs in Houston) is only $5,800 for the first cycle doesn't include the meds then $1,800 for each FET. Good luck!

SDtrying · Post by **SDtrying** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:30 am

We took a low interest loan for $12000 (3.99% x 24 months) and paid for about $500-700 worth of meds as the expenses came up.

The cost is limiting for some, but fortunately my husband and I were able to afford the costs in payments...

Tris · Post by **Tris** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:43 am

Hi! In case it helps...in many hospitals in EUROPE it costs only around €3,500 (euros) with medicines included...thats around maybe USD$5,000 at todays rate for one try. You shouldnt spend $20,000!!!....Thats too much! Ive done 5 IVF´s (4 pgs) and one FET and am now 4 weeks PG...the total cost then for all those procedures would be just over $20,000 for me and I have th best clinic in Spain!!! (PG 4 times out of 5) You should research on clinics and sometimes it will save you more to go on a medical vacation! doing IVF abroad while seeing the sights as well

For less, you also get to enjoy the country you will be doing your treatment in....less stress....Hope this helps

Tris · Post by **Tris** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:45 am

Sorry I meant Im now 4 months PG

gi · Post by gi » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:45 pm

Hi,

That sounds so expensive, here in Ireland its about €4,900 incl meds (we dont get insurance cover here) we have just done our 6th attempt and so far spent about €30,000 but other European countries it is much cheaper. I have heard of lots of couples going to EU countries from US as even with flights & accomodation it works out way cheaper. You could easily just email one of these clinics to find out details and then you know where you stand.
It is such a financial burden even with 2 people working, i hope you figure out your financial situation xxx

How do you afford it?

How do you afford it?

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