How in God's name do you pay for IVF??

[riogirl71]

Have you tried ARC? Integramed?
Lowering the amount asked might help you get the loan.
Do you own a home? You can try a line of credit if you do own a home.
Call your insurance and ask, some insurances cover some things, ours covered meds up to $5,000 for a lifetime. Check with your insurance.
I say plan on spending minimum 15,000 between meds and appts and us/ bloodwork. I thought everything was covered under the IVF contract but it wasn't. It was another $500 here and another $500 there.
Good luck!!!

[Mellie_1233]

I thought it would be worth mentioning that some states mandate coverage for a certain number of IVFs. In IL, you get four tries for the first baby. After you have one baby you get 2 more IVF tries for a second baby.

I realize people can't always just move but sometimes if you work for a company based in another state I think that the insurance rules apply through that state. When we started our fertility journey our insurance was through my DH's job which was based in Minnesota (I think) and so we only had about 12k in coverage. We switched to insurance at my job which is through Illinois and so we had insurance.

Anyway, just wanted to mention that. Maybe someone will be in a situation to apply it.

[Ghost]

Ghost - I always wondered how safe these studies are, if it is a new drug (I saw one for new progesterone) did they do some prior research or are you the guinea pig? Does your clinic do ARC? Do they really get a discount on the regular price or is it just another kind of financing?

Yes, you would be something of a "guinea pig".

These are real discounts or truly free cycles, not just financing.

Some studies are not drug studies. Some of them compare procedures, like day 3 versus day 5 transfer, the transfer of one versus two embryos, PGD versus no PGD, or acupuncture versus a placebo. These types of studies are usually moderately discounted. You might save $1k or so in a study like this, and maybe get some free drugs, free PGD, or free acupuncture, etc.

Drug studies progress through various stages of trials in humans, all of which occur after initial trials in animals.

Phase 1 studies are small studies (20-100 healthy subjects) to test initial safety and such. These are not the trials you would ever sign up for to have a baby. If the drug passes phase 1 trials to the satisfaction of both the manufacturer and the FDA, it can then be tried in a phase 2 trial.

Phase 2 trials are moderate sized (maybe 200-300 subjects) to get an initial view of the effect of the drug, in terms of both safety and effectiveness. Again, you probably would not be in one of these. I would not recommend it to anyone here. If the drug passes a phase 2 trial, it can then be tried in a phase 3 trial.

Phase 3 trials are when they finally seek FDA approval. These are large studies, often over 1000 subjects. This is one type of study you might use to actually achieve pregnancy. They are typically designed with a new drug pitted against an existing, approved standard drug (the "control"), and patients are randomized to one or the other. These studies are usually free, including all the meds, or else are heavily discounted. They might even include free diagnostics, but not always.

Sometimes drugs go through multiple phase 3 trials, perhaps because the company seeks to get approval for a new indication, but more commonly to get approval in a different country. A drug being tested here might already be approved for use elsewhere.

Phase 4 trials are studies performed after a drug is already FDA approved and are usually sponsored by clinics, not drug companies. They might be testing the effect of the approved drug when tried in a different way or perhaps in a different population. For example, if a drug company got a progesterone product approved by testing it in fresh IVF cycles, a clinic might then investigate how well it works in FET cycles. These studies usually have a modest discount, maybe $1k in an IVF study, and will often have some free meds.

The Phase 3, Phase 4, and the procedure comparison studies are the ones to watch for. I'm not saying all of them are wonderful. But they all must involve an informed consent process, where they inform you about the study procedures, risks, and benefits, and you must be given the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered. You can withdraw from a research study at any time without penalty. You might lose the benefits of continued participation. For example, if it's a progesterone study, they won't give you any more progesterone after you withdraw from the study, but they cannot change your cycle price or charge you for the progesterone (or any other drugs) you have already received in that study just because you dropped out.

[Ghost]

An example of an IVF research study just now getting underway is being discussed here:

http://forums.fertilitycommunity.com/vi ... lable.html

That study will involve 35 centers and will require 1400 subjects. The trial registration page is found here:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ ... pin&rank=6

That page gives the inclusion/exclusion criteria and a phone number to call to find participating clinics.

It seems it will be free of charge, or nearly so. It's a phase III trial of a new drug, a drug that has already been approved for use in Europe as "Elonva". I think that drug will be very popular because one injection lasts a whole week.

[CHELLEBELLE]

Hi everyone!! Just wanted to let you know that I have found a way to help with the high cost of IVF so if you are interested in knowing more don't hesitate to email me. I know how shocking it is to see the high price tag on IVF because I have been there and I think I cried every single time I thought about it because honestly who has that kind of money just laying around?? Anyway I am here to share my secret!!

My email is

CHELLE69_82@YAHOO.COM

[Ghost]

Hi everyone!! Just wanted to let you know that I have found a way to help with the high cost of IVF so if you are interested in knowing more don't hesitate to email me. I know how shocking it is to see the high price tag on IVF because I have been there and I think I cried every single time I thought about it because honestly who has that kind of money just laying around?? Anyway I am here to share my secret!!

My email is

CHELLE69_82@YAHOO.COM

Marketing?

[CHELLEBELLE]

Nope not trying to market anything just sharing what I did to get past the large cost of IVF that otherwise I would NEVER of been able to afford. Its not free money, there is work involved but it is easy work and it covered almost my entire cost for IVF and all it entales.

[mizzy247]

Nope not trying to market anything just sharing what I did to get past the large cost of IVF that otherwise I would NEVER of been able to afford. Its not free money, there is work involved but it is easy work and it covered almost my entire cost for IVF and all it entales.

How about just inform the board and share the love here with all of us..That would be really kind.

[AbbieLynn]

Hi there. Great question. I took a second job and worked for over a year to save the money. As for dealing emotionally with the large pricetag and the risk, I considered too things. First, I realize that the majority of people who undergo IVF will eventually get pregnant if they stick with it long enough, so I am going into this determined to go the long road if needed and second the national average for raising a child to age 18 if approxiamately 210,000 to 270,000 dollars per year ( 12,000 to 15,000 per month) somewhat dependant on your household income. So we really are only paying a small percentage more for the whole having babies and raising them journey than families who get freebie babies ( i.e. have sex and get pregnant).

Abbie

[CT_Michele]

That is a good question!

I was lucky enough to have insurance pay for 2 cycles, but freezing and various other fees were not covered, and they add up quick. And then my 3rd try, FET, was not covered. We took out healthcare loans and used 0% financing offers on credit cards to cover it, and almost a year later are still trying to pay them off. We have not been able to try again because we just can't afford it.

Our journey will continue sometime soon for a second child, by either me going back to work so we can afford to pay out of pocket, or maybe get more insurance coverage depending on the district I would work in.

The money is daunting. It kills me. My husband and I live very modest lifestyles. We both work in social services. We drive cars that are 14 yrs old to avoid car payments and make due with our 900 sq ft house. I hate paying interest on anything and therefore do not charge anything I can not pay off within a month. But when it comes to children? It is about the only thing I feel is worth going into debt for. I am trying to restrain myself and be realistic. I think about my next cycle everyday and the only thing stopping me from taking out an equity loan on my house is my daughter. Yes, I want another child BADLY, but at what expense to my first miracle? I gotta keep things in perspective. But you better believe, the first chance I get to cycle again, I will be there!

Good luck to you on your journey.

[Wondercat]

Abbie - I hope you mean the average is $12,000-$15,000 a year, not month. Maybe some people spend $200,000 a year raising each child in the Hamptons, but that's a heck of a lot more than our combined income so our kid is going to have to make due with a more middle-class lifestyle!!

[expectant-mom]

As if the emotional rollercoaster of IVF treatment isn't enough, there's finances to think about!! We had a couple of relatives who helped us out but I also got a part-time job working at a Dr's office! I did front desk reception and it was actually very helpful...once I got to know the Dr., I could get free medical advice and I think working in a medical setting put me at ease when it came time for tests & procedures. Try to get creative with the money-making...part time jobs, online jobs, beg & borrow from friends and family...somehow it can be done. Best of luck to you.