How to Find Affordable Options for Egg Donor IVF

Опубликовал Admin
9-11-2020, 02:10
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Wanting to have children and not being able to conceive is frustrating and stressful. On top of that, egg donor IVF (in-vitro fertilization) can be incredibly expensive — as much as $65,000 in the US if you use fresh eggs. Fortunately, they are ways you can reduce these costs if you're committed to trying egg donor IVF. If you can't get the cost low enough to afford treatment in the US, you might also try traveling abroad, where treatment can be as little as half the cost of US treatment.

Controlling Treatment Costs in the US

  1. Determine what you can afford to pay for treatment. Look over your household budget and any savings you have. Keeping in mind that you'll likely pay around $30,000 for egg donor IVF in the US, figure out how much money you can put towards treatment or how long it will take you to save up that money.
    • If you don't think you'll be able to afford the entire cost of treatment, try to contribute as much as you can. That leaves less money that you'll have to borrow or worry about.
    • Try not to get too upset if it turns out paying for the treatment isn't in your budget. There are numerous financing options available that can help you.
  2. Look to your partner or someone close for emotional support. Infertility and the prospect of egg donor IVF can leave you feeling stressed out and anxious — especially if you're worried about how to cover the cost. If you have a partner, count on them to support you mentally and emotionally. If you're single, look for a family member or close friend to provide you comfort and emotional support.
    • Once you find an IVF clinic, you'll likely have access to counseling and therapy from a licensed mental health professional. You may also want to seek guidance from a professional before you start.
    • You might also look for a support group in your area. Talking to others who are on the same path as you can be comforting and remind you that you're not alone.
  3. Check to see if your insurance covers treatment. As of 2020, 17 states have laws that require most insurance companies to cover IVF treatment. Your insurance still might cover your treatment even if you don't live in one of those states, depending on the type of plan you have and your level of coverage.
    • If your insurance covers all or part of your IVF treatment, you're still responsible for any co-pays and for meeting your deductible.
    • While your insurance may cover the IVF treatment, it usually won't cover the cost of donor eggs.
  4. Apply for grants to help cover your egg donor IVF cost. Many nonprofit fertility foundations offer grants to offset some of the cost of IVF treatment. These grants typically won't cover your entire cost, but many offer up to $10,000 in assistance if you qualify.
    • Qualifications vary based on the foundation offering the grant. For a list of grants available, visit https://resolve.org/what-are-my-options/making-infertility-affordable/infertility-treatment-grants-scholarships/.
    • Some grants are all cash assistance, while others offer a combination of cash and medications or other support.
  5. Compare loans and financing programs if you still need help. If you're not eligible for grants or still haven't raised enough money to cover the cost of your egg donor IVF, look into loans and financing programs. Loans are offered by banks, credit unions, and credit card companies. Financing programs are offered by IVF clinic networks and enable you to pay for your egg donor IVF in installments rather than making a single payment all at once.
    • Most loans require a strong credit score and credit history. Check your credit score before applying for loans. If it's low, you might want to take a couple of years improving it before you submit those loan applications.
    • If you're able to take out a loan to finance your egg donor IVF, either in whole or in part, go back to your household budget and make sure you can afford to take on that much debt. Look for the loan with the lowest possible interest rate, and try to pay it off early.
  6. Plan on using frozen eggs rather than fresh eggs. Fresh eggs may have a slightly higher success rate than frozen eggs, but they'll also cost about twice as much as frozen eggs. The difference often isn't worth the added expense. If you don't have a lot of room to wiggle in your budget, frozen eggs may be a better bet.
    • The cost of eggs doesn't include the fees you'll pay for other things associated with egg donor IVF, including hormone shots, ultrasounds, blood work, doctor visits, and legal fees. If you need more than one IVF cycle, you'll pay all those fees again.
  7. Look into a shared donor egg program. With a shared donor egg program, you share one donor's eggs with another recipient. Sharing the eggs can reduce the costs of your treatment by as much as 50%, and the success rates tend to be similar to standard IVF treatment.
    • In most cases, you won't need all of a donor's eggs to get pregnant. However, many clinics provide multiple cycle options if your first IVF procedure is unsuccessful.

Traveling to Another Country for Treatment

  1. Look at clinics in countries where the donor will likely resemble you. The law in most countries requires you to choose eggs from someone who matches you in terms of eye, hair, and skin color. Generally, finding an egg donor who has at least some characteristics in common with you, especially blood type, increases the chances that your IVF will be successful.
    • For example, if you are white, you might consider clinics in Ukraine, Russia, or Poland, where the majority of the donors are of Caucasian origin. On the other hand, if you have darker skin, you might look at clinics in Spain, Cyprus, Greece, or Barbados.
  2. Narrow your choices to countries where you understand the native language. Getting IVF treatment in a country where you don't understand anyone around you can feel isolating and frustrating, and may also make it difficult for you to get around. Keep in mind that a majority of your time in the country isn't going to be spent in the IVF clinic.
    • There are plenty of IVF clinics in countries where one of the official languages is English that are still less expensive than getting egg donor IVF in the US. However, if you speak another language, such as Spanish, you might be able to save even more.
    • If you are looking at a country where English is not an official language, you'll likely find more people who speak and understand English if you go to an IVF clinic in a major city.
  3. Assess the quality of care in countries you're considering. Focus on countries that offer state-of-the-art equipment and a high standard of patient care. The country (and any clinic you use there) should also have a high number of experts and scientists who specialize in egg donor IVF.
    • You can learn a lot about a country's standard of medical care in general by looking on the website for that country's department or ministry of health care.
    • Look online for that country's medical association and licensing board. Find out what the requirements are for becoming a licensed physician and the requirements for working in an IVF clinic.
    • If you have any special issues, look at the availability of specialists who have experience handling cases similar to yours. For example, if you have a chronic illness, you might look for doctors who have experience successfully performing IVF on others with the same condition.
  4. Find out what the maximum age is for recipients. Different countries have different age restrictions. If you're in your early 40s, this probably won't be much of a concern. However, if you're in your late 40s or early 50s, you'll have fewer options.
    • Most countries set the maximum age at either 45 or 50. Countries that allow IVF treatment for patients over 50 include Russia and Ukraine.
  5. Evaluate other legal restrictions in countries you're interested in. If you're a cisgender woman married to a cisgender man, you won't have to worry about legal restrictions for IVF treatment in any country. However, same-sex couples and single women have more limited choices.
    • If you're single, you can get egg donor IVF in Spain, Portugal, North Cyprus, Greece, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Mexico, or Barbados.
    • If you are in a same-sex couple, you can get egg donor IVF in Spain, Portugal, Finland, UK, or Barbados.
    • Egg donor IVF is illegal for same-sex couples and single women in Czech Republic and Poland.
  6. Consult with doctors in clinics you're considering. Typically, you can have a phone or online interview with a doctor in an IVF clinic abroad to talk about their treatment and services. It's a good idea to talk to doctors at more than one clinic. Questions to ask include:
    • What is your clinic's record on safety and standards?
    • How do you ensure confidentiality of patient records?
    • How long would I need to stay in the country and how often would I need to travel to the clinic for treatment?
    • How are your clinic's success rates calculated?
    • What screening do you carry out on prospective donors?

Assessing the Cost of IVF Treatment

  1. Compare costs at several clinics. Whether you're staying in the US or traveling abroad for IVF treatment, compare several different clinics so you can find the one that best suits both your needs and your budget. Quality IVF clinics should be open to providing information about the clinic and answering any questions you have.
    • Make a list of questions and ask the same questions to each clinic so you can more easily compare them.
    • If you're thinking about traveling to another country for egg donor IVF, you might want to compare costs and services from several different countries, in addition to looking at several clinics in each country.
  2. Find out what is included in the cost of treatment. IVF clinics will quote you a price for egg donor IVF treatment, but there are likely many costs you'll have to incur while getting treatment. Your initial exam, testing, and lab work might not be included in the price. Similarly, follow-up treatment might not be included.
    • Medications that you'll need to take during treatment are rarely included in the price. Some IVF clinics allow you to bring your own medication with you, but others do not. Make sure you know this before you decide on a clinic, especially if you have a grant that is providing your medications for you.
    • Some IVF clinics also charge additional fees for any sedatives you may need during treatment.
  3. Include travel costs if you plan to get treatment abroad. While getting egg donor IVF treatment may be less expensive in another country than it is in the US, you may not end up saving any money when you take the cost of travel and accommodations into account. Get a general idea of how much airfare is to the country and look at some accommodations to get an idea of how much you'll need to spend.
    • Figure in daily expenses such as food and drink as well. Renting a house or condo with a kitchen is generally more economical because you can cook most of your own meals.
    • If you have family or friends who live in another country, check IVF clinics near them and see if you can stay with them while you're getting your treatment. That's generally the least expensive option.
  4. Ask about a refund for unsuccessful treatment. Many IVF clinics provide a full or partial refund if you don't get pregnant after treatment. However, the amount of the refund depends on the treatment plan you've chosen.
    • The idea of the refund is so you can complete another round of IVF and try to get pregnant again. However, you typically aren't required to commit to another round to get the refund.
    • If you're traveling abroad for IVF treatment, keep in mind that you may have to return home and then schedule another trip later to complete a second cycle of treatment.

Tips

  • Make sure you have emotional support available to you before, during, and after your treatment. Egg donor IVF can be stressful and emotionally taxing. In addition to family and friends, find a licensed counselor and an infertility support group.

Warnings

  • Don't use cost exclusively when choosing an IVF clinic. You run the risk of failed treatment or other health complications if you sacrifice quality care just to save a few dollars.
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