In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Payment Options

For women suffering from the trauma of infertility there are several options available including fertility drugs, surgeries, and stress management techniques. Another option available to many women is also in vitro fertilization. This procedure, while not anywhere near 100% effective has helped women to conceive children where no other methods have been successful. There is one big obstacle that prevents many women from being able to undergo IVF and that is cost. Insurance rarely covers the full cost for the procedure.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF for short, is a medical procedure for fertilizing a woman's egg outside of her body in a laboratory setting and later implanting them into the woman's uterus for regular gestation. IVF was first successful in England in 1978 by a Dr. Edwards and Dr. Steptoe. According to Georgia Reproductive Specialists at www.ivf.com, the procedure has been attributed to the births of over 20,000 babies worldwide, however, IVF makes up less than 3% of all infertility procedures. For the women who use it, IVF remains the only choice other than using an egg donor or adoption.

During the early days of in vitro fertilization, surgery was required, but because of advances in ultrasound technology, catheters, and medical equipment in general, the procedure can now be done without surgery. IVF is now done without hospitalization and without general anesthesia. After the initial tests of discovery and two weeks of preparation with hormonal treatments and fertility drugs, one or more eggs can be retrieved in short time with no more pain than what would accompany a regular pap smear.

After the initial retrieval, a specialist will fertilize the eggs with the chosen father's sperm and allow the embryo to begin initial cell division. Once division has occurred 2-3 times, the embryo is inserted into the uterus through the vagina which is normally 2-3 days after retrieval. Implantation is also an outpatient procedure requiring only 1 hour of bed rest and observation before the patient is allowed to go home.

While IVF is common and generally extremely low-risk, there does exist one problem for many woman throughout the country-payment. IVF is rarely covered fully through insurance, if offered at all. Several States have mandated that companies with greater than 50 employees must offer insurance covering infertility, but the amount and types vary widely. With or without coverage there will be out-of-pocket expenses. Because of this, many fertilization centers offer some form of payment plan, package plan, and/or refund plans in case the IVF is unsuccessful, which is more often than not.

States with fertilization insurance laws are: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and West Virginia. Some of these, while covering infertility treatments, do not cover IVF specifically. If you live in one of these states, and are covered by an employment-based policy, check your coverage for IVF. This can be done with the insurance company itself or with the human resources department of your employer. Although complete coverage is rare, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. There are plans that cover up to 6 attempts or cycles with only a low co-pay. Others may cap the expenses at a dollar amount. It varies so widely that you will need to check.

If you find that your insurance does not cover IVF, you may be eligible to purchase a new insurance plan that will cover the procedure. Generally, you must be currently insured, under 40, and have no pre-existing conditions according to www.pregnancy-info.net. Research several insurance companies for what they can offer you. If the rates are too high and the coverage less than complete, you may be better off with a payment plan or loan for the IVF. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine has an insurance law guide available at http://www.asrm.org/Patients/insur.html.

If you find that the insurance is either not available or not affordable to you, many centers offer different payment plans. Some centers such as American Fertility Services offer a package plan that is all inclusive or partially inclusive. The AFS package plan includes ultrasound pre-cycle and cycle monitoring, egg retrieval, sperm injection, assisted hatching, and monitoring up to development of a fetal heartbeat for $8000 per cycle attempt. They also offer a plan whereby you pay $1500 additional for the first two cycles and if unsuccessful, the second two are at no charge.

Another payment plan that many fertilization centers offer is a sharedrisk or refund plan. The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago has several plans available. One of their shared risk plans includes 3 cycles and all medications at a cost of $22,000. If you do not have a baby, $17,000 will be refunded to you at the end of the 3 attempts. They also offer a 100% refund plan that covers 3 cycles for a cost of $24,500 for females under the age of 35.

Other options available include loans and payment plans for those with approved credit. Loans may be available for medical procedures from your bank as well. As a last resort, it could be done on a credit card, but usually the rates are higher on a card. Be sure to check all available options before committing to a loan or credit card.

For in vitro fertilization, a good insurance plan is the best bet, but not always available. Because so many woman have either little or no coverage, many IVF centers provide several options for paying. Please consult your local fertilization center, your insurance carrier, and your doctor for more information.