Cost

Historically when the economy is in shambles family size decreases and couples think more about the financial impact of having a child than they might when the economy is robust. I imagine that a down economy also affects people's approach to infertility and fertility treatments. One of the biggest stresses for me when pursuing IVF was the exorbitant cost of the treatment. When we found out that we were expecting twins, that stress about finances was amplified. We went through our IVF cycle almost two years ago, before the economic fall-out and I was still overwhelmed. I can't imagine what couples are facing today - financial stresses are tough on relationships even before infertility is thrown… [more]

I find it very appalling that in an industry that is largely self-pay there are many deceitful clinics that advertise false pricing for IVF. A friend of mine who was using my same clinic and just beginning her fertility treatments challenged me when I said that my husband and I had spent easily $15,000 on our IVF cycle when all was said and done. She had recently attended her consultation when they told her (and gave her a packet of information) that said IVF was $8,000. My explanation was probably unnecessarily heated, but I remember feeling as though we had been mislead and wanted to make it clear that we spent well more than the original estimate… [more]

In the very beginning stages of an IVF cycle you learn about success rates and (hopefully) what the expectation is for you. You learn about fees and can get an estimate of what your particular protocol will cost. You will also probably hear about, or get information on a shared risk program. To do or not do the shared risk program was, for us, a big debate. "Shared Risk" is a guarantee program that typically offers a flat fee for three IVF cycles. If you do not become pregnant within three cycles you are refunded a portion of the money. If you do get pregnant on any of the three cycles you do not get any money back… [more]

When we began our IVF journey the list of things to stress about was very lengthy. At the top of the list was finances and trying to determine just how to pay for the treatments, none of which would be covered by insurance. If you live in a mandated state that requires insurance to cover infertility treatments then the process is certainly still difficult, but count your blessings that trying to find a way to pay for it all isn't an added dilemma! For those of use who are looking at staggering amounts of money owed for each step along the way, the financial aspect of infertility can sometimes be the most overwhelming issue of all. As a couple… [more]

The decision to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)is a big one. Once you take the step to delve deeper into your fertility issues by researching treatments and more advanced therapy and seeking the help of a fertility specialist, then you have had to come to the point of admitting to yourself that you may be infertile and may need more help than your regular ob/gyn can offer. That first consultation can be nerve wracking and overwhelming and it is often difficult to know what questions to ask. My biggest piece of advice is to make a list and take it with you! Write down your questions and concerns and get the answers that you need. It is also helpful… [more]

When people found out that we were about to try IVF we were asked many times if we were going to have multiple children, with more than one reference to us as Larry and Sheila plus 8. After my twins were born and a friend asked how we were doing, we honestly said that although we were loving every minute of it, two newborns were hard. She said, "well you did IVF, you knew you were going to have twins or more." In response to both of these statements I tried to really explain the IVF procedure and the chances of multiple births. Granted, my explanation was more plausible before IVF rather than after, when I knew that I had… [more]

If you are in the midst of going through fertility treatments, you might see your bank account rapidly depleting. Even with health insurance coverage, fertility treatments can be expensive. Have you decided when to stop investing money in the dream of conceiving a child?

Many couples who are going through fertility procedures do not want to think about stopping. They keep hoping that this month will be the one in which they conceive, and then they can put this nightmare chapter of their lives behind them. While this does happen for some lucky couples, others will eventually have to decide when to stop investing money in this venture.

Some couples only stop paying for fertility treatments when they run out of money. The problem with this strategy… [more]

Do you ever think about how much money you would have in the bank if fertility treatments came with refunds? Considering I paid for over 20 intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), three surgeries, and over two years worth of three different types of hormones, I probably do not even want to know the total cost. It might make me really ill.

Isn't it annoying how most things come with money-back guarantees but fertility treatments do not? I am paid for each post that I write on this blog. I do not get paid whether or not my words are published each day. I can't say, "Well, I had writer's block but I just pounded out some unrelated stuff" and get paid for that. I don't pay a… [more]

Today's post is a special one: This is my 100th post on this blog. Can you believe it?

As I was scanning over the Fertility blog to think about a topic, I noticed that one of our sponsors is a fertility loan center. What a great idea!

I have never heard of a fertility loan, but I have no doubt that there are many people who could use one. With insurance companies limiting their coverage of fertility procedures and many procedures costing thousands of dollars, many couples will need to find ways to finance their dream of becoming parents. There are not many couples with tens of thousand of dollars sitting around waiting to be spent. (I looked for a money tree in my backyard, but… [more]

Will your health insurance cover fertility treatments? The answer to this question depends upon your policy. Many insurance companies specifically exclude fertility treatments from coverage because treatments can become so expensive. Others provide limited coverage, such as covering a set number of intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts.

When I was going through fertility procedures in the late 1990's, my health insurance policy specifically excluded fertility treatments. However, my insurance company did wind up footing the bill for several diagnostic procedures. Apparently, some insurance companies view diagnostic testing for infertility as different from treatment.

My insurance company also covered parts of some treatment costs, even with this exclusion in place. For example, the insurance company would not pay the part… [more]