Your IVF Financial Questions Answered
Even though fertility treatment has become a commonplace approach, not everyone is familiar with what these treatments entail. This is especially true for those who are navigating these waters for the first time.
One of the biggest concerns hopeful parents have is
cost. They want to know if they can actually afford to progress through the fertility journey. Kymberli Seibert, Boston IVF Financial Coordinator at Deaconess - The Women's Hospital, provides some clarity about financial considerations.
Does Insurance Cover Fertility Treatment?
Insurance coverage for fertility treatment does vary. Anyone who is thinking about fertility treatment can contact their insurance provider to see what is covered and what’s not. The Women’s Hospital does not accept Medicare or Medicaid as insurance options.
Another consideration is testing to diagnose infertility issues versus the treatment itself. “There are a lot of companies that will cover testing to diagnose the problem but not the fertility treatment. So, that would be a reason we would be able to bill testing, just not treatment,” explains Seibert.
Many employers will include fertility treatment coverage in their employee plans. This is more common in larger corporations like Starbucks and Toyota, but that doesn’t mean smaller companies can also manage this offering as well. Typically, insurance plans will cap the infertility coverage at a certain amount.
“For example, if an employer has a $10,000 lifetime maximum and they cover at 50%, they will cover all of your procedures at that 50% up to $10,000. Then, once they paid $10,000, you would be self-pay after that,” states Seibert.
What Are the True Costs if Insurance Isn’t an Option?
For individuals who are looking to do an artificial insemination without insurance, those fees could go anywhere from $460 to $2,090, depending upon the treatment plan. “For IVF procedures, you would be looking at close to $24,000 to $25,000 once everything is paid, including medications,” shares Seibert.
The Women’s Hospital also works with different financing companies to provide patients options. “One is called Lending Club, the other is CapexMD. They are essentially just a loan [patients] would apply for outside of our office. Those companies then in turn pay us and the patient pays them monthly payments,” she adds.
The hospital does not offer any in-house financing, and all treatments must be paid up front before any medications can be ordered. However, should a woman become pregnant before her cycle of treatments conclude, she would be refunded any unused amount.
It’s also important to note that The Women’s Hospital offers a 25% military discount for anything not covered under insurance.
For more information surrounding fertility treatment financial options, please visit the
hospital’s website.