Couples exploring IVF treatment have several financial options available.
When IVF (in-vitro fertilization) is recommended for couples diagnosed with infertility, the idea and process involved can be overwhelming. Factor in the cost for one IVF cycle, an average of $12,400 in the United States in 2009 according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and it can become a financial burden. There is financial help for couples going through IVF in the form of refund programs, financing, low-cost programs and health insurance.
Identification
According to ASRM.org, IVF was first introduced in 1978 and was introduced in the United States in 1981. IVF is the process in which eggs are surgically removed from an ovary and mixed with sperm outside the body in a petri dish. The eggs are checked after about 40 hours to see if they were fertilized and are dividing into cells. Some of the fertilized eggs, or embryos, are placed into the female patient's uterus.
Refund Programs
Refund programs allow patients to pay for a specific number of IVF cycles. If at the end of their cycles they have not taken home a baby, the patient is refunded a portion or all (usually 70 to 100 percent) of their IVF costs, depending on the company and program. There are usually some exclusions and limitations for age, number of minimum and maximum cycles and services covered. One example is the Attain™ IVF Program offered by IntegraMed.com.
Financing
IVF patients can obtain unsecured loans that cover treatment and pharmaceutical expenses through companies specializing in IVF financing. Other companies offer IVF options in addition to the nonmedical financing they provide. Some companies also offer a refund program for patients financing IVF. Advanced Reproductive Care, Inc. offers financing options at ARCfertility.com.
Low-Cost Programs
Patients can obtain low-cost IVF by looking for fertility clinics specifically offering low-cost procedures or visiting overseas clinics that provide IVF treatment at lower costs. Additionally, patients can participate in a research program to offset IVF costs or apply to the only national IVF scholarship program offered through the InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc. at INCIID.org.
Health Insurance
Some health insurance plans cover a portion or all of the costs associated with IVF. Contact your employer's human resources or benefits department or your health insurance company to learn if IVF costs are a covered expense. In addition, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia currently have laws requiring insurers to cover or offer to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatment. Contact the Insurance Commission in the state where you reside; state laws vary.
Warning
Only a doctor can diagnose infertility and recommend IVF as a treatment option. Since IVF costs vary based on location and degree of services required, check with your doctor to see what financial options she offers or recommends based on your specific situation.
Tags: financial options, health insurance, United States