IVF treatment costs can cause unnecessary stress when trying to conceive. Not only can the cost of one round of IVF treatment be daunting, but so can the knowledge that it may take a few tries before the treatment is effective. How long will the IVF treatment go on for, and how much will it cost in the long run?
At Fertility Help Hub, we are here to give out readers a little boost and we have come up with some money-saving ideas that could help you find the funding you need for fertility treatment and medications. Read on to find out how you could receive funding for your fertility treatments, surrogacy costs and attorney fees in the US.
Words by Katherine Compton
1. Infertility Insurance
The first question to ask yourself is, ‘Does your work insurance already cover fertility treatment?’ A lot of employers do include this cover on their insurance, so the first step would be to find out if your work insurance could meet the costs of IVF treatment. If it does not, you could ask your employer and their insurer for an infertility insurance plan. Your employer may have never considered adding fertility treatment to their insurance before, especially if you are the first employee to ask. Your employer may be intrigued by the idea of making their insurance plan look more desirable to future applicants (as 1 in 8 struggle with infertility). Fertility benefits may already be a part of your employer’s insurance package but it may simply not have been activated yet. The worst that can happen is they simply say ‘no’, but at least you’ve given it a go.
2. Infertility Insurance: An alternative
A second option is to ask your insurer directly if they can add fertility treatment to your individual plan or ask how you might go about adding this yourself.
How to get infertility insurance
First, you have to apply for an Exemption of Benefits of Predetermination of Coverage, which is request that will require some steps. You have to provide medical evidence in the form of a letter from your fertility specialist confirming that you do struggle with infertility but that the chances of IVF working for you are high (more than 5% chance of successful birth). This may feel a little invasive, but this letter and application could be just the thing you need to bring you one step closer to having the family you want.
3. How to Get Infertility Insurance: Daring Options
A slightly more drastic (and yet very common) way that people are seeking help with the cost of IVF treatment in the US is by changing employers. Even if the new company you apply to work for offers a pay decrease, you could be saving money in the long run if you are receiving free or discounted fertility treatment and medications.
How to get infertility insurance by changing employers
There are two ways that you could make this option work best for you. There are many employees who are entitled to fertility benefits on the insurance of a part-time employee, meaning you could keep your old job but simply reduce your hours to part-time to make room in your schedule for this second job. In doing this, you are able to remain at your primary job and may be able to return to it full-time once you have reaped the benefits of the second job. Or, depending on the type of work you do, you might be able to work elsewhere temporarily to receive the insurance infertility benefits and treatment, if you feel as though balancing two jobs is not the right option for you.
Related Article – Successful Applicants for Free IVF – Meet LGBTQ Couple Sam and Cleo
What Companies Cover Infertility on their Insurance?
The following list shows some of the major companies within the US that offer fertility treatment on their insurance for part-time employees:
- Starbucks
- Chanel
- Bank of America
- Bain and Company
Most of these suggestions offer full coverage while some offer four cycles.
4. Relocating
Relocating can be a good option for those looking for financial help when TTC. Currently, there are 19 states that offer infertility insurance by law, 13 of which offer IVF treatment. This may be a better option for you than changing your employer as you can keep your position at the company you work for and apply for a transfer if the company has offices in the new location. Each state has different eligibility terms to access infertility insurance so it may be worth looking up your state to see if you qualify for benefits.
What states cover fertility insurance for IVF and other treatments:
New York, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
5. IVF Grants and Charities
Under certain circ*mstances, you could be applicable for a grant from one of many infertility charities. So long as you meet the specific criteria required to receive the grant, this could be a really quick and effortless way to find the funding you need — no sacrifices required.
Below is a list of a few (of many) charities that offer IVF grants and their requirements for applying:
- ACG scholarship offers a 12-week application window that they announce on social media once open. To apply, you must: have a diagnosis of infertility and be a US Citizen over the age of 18
- Baby Quest awards grants each year between May and November. They offer $2,000 — $15,000 on top of medications and in the past year have given 15 grants to patients with infertility
- The Samfund offers grants for cancer survivors of up to $4000 for fertility treatment
- Men Having Babies offers cash and in-kind grants to help with the costs of IVF treatment, egg donor costs and surrogacy costs for intended fathers-to-be
Related Article – Meet Successful Applicants of Free IVF at The Agora Fertility Clinic
Location-Based Grants
The following charities offer grants based on location:
- HRC offers a 40% discount on IVF costs for active duty veterans and personnel; however, you have to be located in one of the following places: New York, Oceanside, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, Encino, Westlake Village, West LA and Connecticut
- CCRM offer 20% discount on IVF treatment, but the recipients must be active duty military personnel that are not injured
- UCSF offers grants of 15% off for patients living in the Bay area of San Francisco with IVF success rates as good as 40%
- Pay it Forward Foundation offers pay for additional treatment for couples who have had previous procedures that failed and they offer grants for fertility preservation and treatment. Cancer patients and military personnel may also apply. This is specific to those located in North Carolina
- Starfish Fertility Foundation offers IVF grants to anyone living within a 10 mile radius of Nashville
- Fertility Foundation of Texas offers grants of up to $12,000 for low income families, earning $100,000 annually or less. You must have infertility issues and be living in Central Texas
- CNY offers free monthly cycles of IVF but eligibility requirements change monthly
6. Loans for Infertility Treatment
If all other avenues of financing your IVF have been exhausted, then maybe infertility financing programmes could be the option for you. This is essentially a loan that will need to be paid back in instalments over time. There are a lot of packages and programs in the US for IVF:
- Ally Lending – offers various loan amounts reaching to $40,000. They cover IVF treatment, medication and genetic testing costs and you can choose a flexible repayment plan with a 24 – 84 month loan option
- Bundl – allows you to group all of your IVF cycles together to suit your financial and medical needs. They believe this can help with your peace of mind throughout the journey as you know the costs are covered and finance would be one less thing to worry about
- CNY Fertility Fertile Financing Program – CNY offers more than just IVF funding. They also cover costs of IUI, FET, donor eggs, tubal ligation reversals and vasectomy reversals. You would initially pay a small fee as a downpayment for treatment, with the rest covered. These payments would need to be repaid over a two-year period. Requirements are to seek treatment at CNY Fertility and to have an active debit or credit card.
- EggFund Fertility Loans – EggFund was started by an infertility sufferer, and works with vetted financial partners. They offer affordable loans for IVF, egg freezing, medication, medical treatment, adoption and surrogacy, attorney, storage and agency fees. You also have the freedom to choose any clinic or fertility specialist and you need a minimum credit score of 660
- Fertility Lab Sciences Financing Program – offer a program called The Assure IVF Refund Program. This program offers discounted fees for up to three fresh and three frozen rounds of IVF. If the birth has been unsuccessful, the patient receives 80-100% of the fees back. To be eligible, you have to submit an application through your chosen fertility centre’s business office representative.
- Future Family – Pay the big costs upfront while you repay small, monthly instalments starting at $300 a month with 7% interest rates. They also offer support by providing fertility specialists and nurses to support you via text, video or email
- In Vitro Sciences Financing Program – Offer three frozen and fresh cycles of IVF at a discounted fee and will offer a 70% refund if treatment was unsuccessful. Requirements for this loan are that you have to seek treatment at an In Vitro Sciences Centre of Excellence. You also must be under the age of 38 unless donor eggs are used. There must also be proof of infertility with medical records available
- New Life Agency, Inc. Financing Programs – offers financing for all fertility treatments and medications (purchased through Walgreens Pharmacies) and the intended parents must have a good credit score.
- Shady Grove Fertility Financing Program – offers up to six fresh IVF cycles or donor egg treatment for a single flat fee that is 100% refundable if treatment is unsuccessful. Requirements are a full medical screening that qualifies you as a good candidate for IVF treatment and women must be under the age of 39 by the end of the fertility treatment or cycles (with the exception of those using egg donors)
Hopefully, this article has helped you to see the many ways you could afford to achieve the family of your dreams. If big steps like changing professions or relocating are not the right fit for you, then there is always the option to reach out to your insurer personally, or to apply for grants and loans.
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