IVF cost & how is everyone affording this

[ivfers]

Hello,

After 10-years of trying, we went through IVF and it cost around $25K. The cycle failed and our options are another cycle or donor eggs.

After viewing IVF success rates carefully at various clinics, I believe that people must plan for at least 2 or 3 cycles before they are going to have a high probability of success. At this rate, we're looking at $75K+ for expenses!

My questions to everyone out there: Are most of you paying for all this yourselves or is insurance paying for this? I can understanding doing 3 cycles if insurance is paying for it, but for 90% of the people out there, coming up with this kind of cash is very difficult.

Also, having gone through an IVF now, I believe that it is (for the most part) a cook-book process. For example, you have three options as far as the cycle, then you have some choices for the fertilization etc. Has anyone thought to ask WHY is this so expensive? Because looking at it logically, there is nothing that seems so earth-shattering new, especially 30-years later after the first IVF. Or, is this the case of the doctor's just milking it for what they can?

My only comparison is when vision corrective surgery came out, it was very expensive. Now, you can get it for about $2K per eye! Besides the lower equipment costs, the majority of costs in these procedures are doctor's fees, which inevitably go down as the number of doctors who perform these procedures increase. Based on this, my only conclusion is that IVF will drop in cost in the next 5-10 years as the number of doctors who perform this procedure increase--unless of course the doctors figure out a way to limit the number of doctors (competitors) that will do this. Once again, it's the AMA controlling costs by controlling supply.

Anyway, we're thinking about what to do next, and going abroad to a reputable clinic seems to be a good option for getting IVF done at a fraction of the cost ($7,500), which seems very reasonable. The cost of the medicine is about the same, but the doctor fees are A LOT less, and at this point, it just seems like a probability game.

Just my few thoughts...looking forward to others' ideas.

[ButterflyKiss]

We live in Canada and there is no coverage here by insurance so each cycle is oop (out of pocket)

We save, save and save so we can do this hoepfully next Spring.

All the best to you as you try and do this again. I know some look at the Czech Republic, Barbados and even taking part in clinical trials. I hope you are blessed soon!

Blessings.

[angeinhull]

My clinic (in the UK) have an egg sharing scheme which really reduces the cost. Could you do something like this? Also, they stated a cycle plus meds costs in the region of £5000. The USA must be a lot more expensive. We were lucky and have our little miracle from a NHS cycle

[kizmet]

Having read the costs of IVF in the US from people on this site, I too wonder how on earth anyone can afford it. We just did our first fresh IVF cycle here in Australia, and it cost us around $5200 (in Aussie dollars, so that would be about $4300 USD by today's exchange rate). We will receive some of that back (about another $2000 back if my calculations are right) via Medicare (aussie gov't medical funding that every aussie is entitled to - although you can't claim that way if you have med insurance). We will be doing a FET cycle in a month or so and once we get our rebates back, out of pocket for the FET should only be about $1000 (aussie dollars). I don't know how we could afford it if we lived in the US.

[riogirl71]

I am moving to Australia!

We just finished a cycle and it cost us about $11,000 all out of pocket in California.

[leorira11]

If you have any Jewish lineage - might I suggest moving to Israel?

I'm a new immigrant here (3 years - moved from the USA). We didn't know about our fertility problem when we came.

We have national health care here (one of the best systems in the world, ranked even better than the UK's NHS). I pay about $10/month from my salary to my health care coverage and all doctors appts/drugs/tests are covered.

IVF (if it's deemed necessary) is covered FULLY until you have 2 living children.... so are any other fertility treatments (IUI, drugs, etc)

We have paid maybe $200 and we are on try #3 (got pregnant with IVF#1, lost twins at 22 weeks, FET#1 BFN and now waiting for results from FET#2).

[angeinhull]

Wow! That is really amazing. What a good health system. The NHS is good but it is really a post code lottery as to what treatment you are entitled to.

[Kamaile]

in im Hawaii and over here, some insurance comapnies will cover one IVF attempt in a lifetime. So my first IVF cycle, I paid $2500 out of pocket. I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks so i had to change insurance companies to try again. Only one other company was willing to give me a try (the other companies said NO when they found out that I had done an IVF) and my out of pocket cost was $5500.

[applejar]

My dr told me prices start at about $5000, USD. She said this is if we need no donor eggs or sperm. Our insurance covers fertility treatments, but the ins. company also requires the dr to contact them and basically say that they have tried everything else.

[iamsimone]

I'm from the uk and i believe they are now stopping ivf on the nhs but as we started a while ago i get two rounds for free, if i lived 5 miles down the road i would only get one round, doesn't make any sense to me, i just feel bad for all the people out there who are just starting their infertility testing because they will no longer be able to get the funding

[timber5k]

I'm from the U.S. I just did my first IVF cycle and it wasn't covered by insurance. I paid $2,300 for meds and $10,000 for two IVF cycles, if needed. As I type that, I can't believe I actually paid that much. IVF does seem ridiculously expensive. Fortunately, my hpt was a BFP and my first Beta was a 52. Still early though, and I just hope this pregnancy sticks.

[MamaBoo]

I'm in Cincinnati, OH, US. The cost at my clinic is IVF $6500 + meds (they can usually get you some discounts on meds first time around) and FET $2500 + meds. Most of the money actually goes to the hospital where the procedures are performed. (You have to write two checks one to the Dr's and one to the hospital.). For our first baby, we did a shared risk program. For $14500, we received 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles and you were guaranteed a "take-home" baby. If you did not have a baby that lived, you would receive 70% of your money back. I missed carried on the 1st IVF. 1st FET was successful and they keep all the money. We spent, including all meds, about $19000 or so, and we have a son and two frosties. It is worth every penny. We are not rich, but I manage money very well. We financed much of it through our bank. However, we only owe about $2600 after starting 2 1/2 years ago. Now, we have an ins co that will pay some of the costs, and we are doing an FET with our remaining snow babies. We will pay another $1000 or so out of pocket. Financing is a good option if you can do it without using a medical finance co. I think they really stick it to you with the interest. I took out a personal line of credit and received a much better interest rate.

[Gina1976]

No one has been on here in a while but adding myself in here!

I'm having a difficult time having to wait for savings! One income family here (I'm a stay at home Mom) and already saving for DH's retirement that happens next year(he's only 38 so will go into another job after a little break that is well deserved!) that we need.

I wanted to add what I could so decided to sell Scentsy stuff. It may only pay for our gas or food but that's better than nothing!!

[TTKV]

I have a lot of extra bravelle and menopur I don't need anymore, just got the good news! If you're interested, let me know asap. Sorry, I can only give discounts and not giving for free. These things have cost me a fortune , all out of pocket . I'm in Orange county, CA.

[JasieC]

Hello everyone,
IVF is not cheap... but if there is no other way to become pregnant, money are not considered, they can be borrowed, or collected,
I have IVF for 9,900 euro for unlimited attempts, so I am sure I will be pregnant anyway, it all my attempts would be unsuccessful, I will have my money back, but I am absolutely sure I will be, becouse this clinic has fertilized a 66 year Sweden woman in Ukraine, its BioTexCom