If you’re thinking it’s time to try fertility treatments, you’ve probably heard that “expensive” is kind of an understatement when it comes to making a baby. Sure, raising kids is expensive… but what about having them?
Some parents will tell you they spent tens of thousands of dollars on fertility, and that was with health insurance! But does that mean you’ll have to clear out your savings and take out a second mortgage? Maybe not.
Here’s the lowdown on what you’re really looking at when it comes to fertility treatment costs.
How much do fertility treatments cost?
Knowing how much different fertility treatments can cost goes a long, long way when it comes to choosing what to do (and how to pay for it).
All treatments vary from state to state and doctor to doctor, says Jaime Knopman, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at New York fertility clinic Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM). Still, Knopman offers this general look at what you might expect between IUI vs. IVF:
IUI can cost around $400 per insemination. Some women are given drugs to stimulate egg production as part of an IUI cycle, which can add to the costs. If drugs are on the docket, typically they’re lower cost than those required if you’re undergoing IVF. Some, like Clomid, can be as little as $10 to $20 per prescription, Knopman says. Keep in mind though, there will likely be an additional cost for “washing” the sperm being used to ensure you get the purest sample, and there may also be additional charges for ultrasounds and bloodwork.
IVF can cost $9,000 and up for the basics. “This is where things start to get more expensive,” Knopman says. “Not because of the procedures but because of the medications.” The IVF process involves the transfer of an embryo into the uterus.
Medications may be prescribed to stimulate egg production and to prepare the body for implantation. Altogether, IVF medications can be $5,000 or more, depending on the number of times eggs are harvested and embryos transferred. And of course, each of these steps along the way carry a cost. Most fertility clinics will group fees together, so a parent or parents know what to expect, but beware: The global fee usually will not include the cost of medications or fees charged by outside labs, anesthesiologists, or radiologists. For some clinics, this “global fee” is as little as $8,000. For others, it can be as much as $30,000, Knopman says.
What about third-party reproduction and egg donation?
Third-party reproduction refers to any human reproduction in which DNA or gestation is provided by a third party other than the one or two parents who will raise the resulting child. This can get expensive for families, however it generally increases the chances of success.
We know IVF and egg donation are big expenses for families, and we want to help you financially plan for your donation journey. The expenses associated with a journey with Cofertility will vary based on if you match with a donor in our fresh or frozen program. However, in general, the cost of egg sharing is less than traditional egg donation, as there is no cash compensation to the donor.
For a more detailed breakdown of Cofertility’s pricing, including estimates, you can visit our pricing page. All of our pricing also includes our Embryo Guarantee.
What if I need a surrogate?
Surrogacy is quite expensive, and can cost $100,000 and up. Surrogacy is when an embryo is implanted into the uterus of a gestational carrier—a woman who agrees to gestate a baby for nine months. Prices for this will top $100,000 Knopman says, as it includes covering not just the IVF procedures but also the care for the entire nine months of a woman’s pregnancy.
Avoiding unexpected fees
Sitting down with your doctor’s billing office before you start any fertility treatment can be a good way to prevent sudden unexpected fees from popping up and surprising you along your fertility treatment journey.
Pamela Hirsch, co-founder of the Baby Quest Foundation, a California-based non-profit that provides grants to help cover individuals’ fertility treatment costs, has some tips for dealing with billing:
- Don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions up front.
- Ask what exactly your insurance will cover. Maybe the doctor takes your insurance, but the lab won’t.
- Ask how to best allocate your insurance dollars when there’s only partial coverage. Sometimes medications are better paid for out of pocket in order to focus your insurance dollars on other, possibly pricier parts of the process.
- Be your own advocate. Say, “I want to speak to the billing person.”
How to save on fertility treatments
Facing all those high dollar amounts can be overwhelming, but there are ways to cut your costs and take the pressure off.
- Look for grants from non-profits, like Hirsch’s, and check out our Fertility Funding database to see if you might qualify for these opportunities.
- See if your employer offers any coverage, or seek a new job that has more favorable coverage. Starbucks, for instance, famously covers $20,000 for IVF and related medication for all eligible employees.
- Don’t be shy asking for help. Crowdfunding has been growing in popularity as a means to make a family.
- If you don’t have insurance coverage, ask about a self-pay rate which is lower than the one the clinic would charge if you were insured.
- Ask your doctor for samples of the pricey medications. They might not always have them, but if they know you’re self pay, they’re more likely to save some for you.
Bottom line
Just like fertility treatment itself, there is no one-size-fits-all cost or one “perfect” way to fund your journey. What matters is what’s right for you.
