What does IVF cost?
IVF treatment costs can vary widely depending on your age, medical history, location and the number of accessible fertility clinics. Costs for a single IVF cycle may range from $10,000 to $15,000, not including medications.2 Fertility drugs critical to the process are an additional expense. Depending on the types of treatments and the number of reproductive cycles, costs of fertility drugs alone can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
If you need more than one IVF cycle to get pregnant, you’re multiplying the costs. Unfortunately, not all insurance will cover these expenses. And most people are caught off-guard by the need for fertility treatments and haven’t saved for this kind of a rainy day.
Other services may be billed as incremental, including bloodwork, ultrasounds, and medication, for example. Talk to your doctor, her fertility coordinator. or the billing office to understand what each line item might be. Knowing all the possible charges will help you make the related financial decisions.
What are my payment and funding options?
Insurance
First, check your health insurance to see if it covers fertility treatments. According to Resolve, the National Infertility Association, 20 states have laws requiring insurers to either offer coverage or to cover infertility treatment.3 The amount of coverage can vary from state to state.
Next, find out if the labs and technicians your doctor uses are in-network through your medical insurance provider. Just because your doctor is in-network doesn’t mean all related services will be.
Finally, comb through your insurance policy and don’t be afraid to call your HR coordinator and provider to figure out exactly what is covered.
For example, your plan may cover fertility medications, but only for a specific brand. Or they may cover routine lab work, but only for designated labs. They may only cover a second IVF treatment if you have a successful pregnancy from the first treatment. Ask all the questions you can in order to maximize your coverage and minimize out-of-pocket costs when seeking treatment.
Flexible spending account
If your employer offers a flexible spending account as part of your benefits package, you may be able to earmark a portion of your pre-tax income to offset IVF treatment costs. Look into your company’s policy or contact your human resources department to see if this option is available.
Payment plans or financial assistance from your provider
Your doctor may also offer a payment plan, discounts for uninsured patients or even a shared-risk program. Be sure to ask what financial support they can offer and how it will affect your out-of-pocket expenses. It never hurts to ask.
IVF Loan
A personal loan may be a strong option for affordable financing for your fertility treatments. You could receive a much better interest rate than you would with credit cards. And, you don’t risk your assets by mortgaging your home or face penalties as you might with a 401(k) loan.
Additional potential benefits include fixed interest rate along with a set regular monthly payment and flexible terms. Knowing the date your loan could be paid off may give you additional peace of mind.
You don’t have to go broke to have a baby. Use our personal loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments based on your loan amount and credit score.
