If you’re looking to freeze your eggs, there are a few elements of egg freezing-related costs that you need to keep in mind. Not only will you pay for retrieving your eggs, but you’re going to pay to store them (and thaw, fertilize, and transfer them down the line).
But how much does it cost to freeze your eggs in the long run? And does insurance cover the cost of freezing your eggs?
How much does freezing your eggs cost?
The question of how much does it cost to freeze your eggs will come down to a few factors. These include the number of cycles you undergo to collect eggs and how long you keep the eggs in storage. Overall, the typical egg freezing can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 for one cycle plus the cost of storage. Let’s break it down.
Evaluation
Cost: $350 to $2,500
First thing’s first, if you’re planning to freeze your eggs, you will need to meet with a fertility specialist to determine if freezing is even a possibility. This part of the egg freezing journey will include talking to the doctor about what egg freezing entails and running some preliminary bloodwork and other tests to determine your hormone levels and current ovarian health.
This consultation may be free at some fertility clinics while others will charge around up to $1,000, plus the costs of the lab work. If you’re lucky, some of these consultations may be covered by insurance. And, if you freeze with Cofertility’s partner clinics, we may be able to secure lower rates that could bring the cost as low as $0.
Medication
Cost: $2,500 to $8,500 per cycle
In order to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs, you’ll need to take injectable hormone medications for the egg freezing process. These can be administered at home, saving you from paying a doctor to inject you each time. But, you will still need to pay for each medication.
To save money on medications, talk to your doctor or clinic’s financial coordinator about your options. Generic medications, for example, may be a less expensive option, and you may qualify for various discount programs already in place.
Cycle monitoring and egg retrieval
Cost: $4,000—$10,000
While you’re taking medication to stimulate your ovaries, you’ll also be making frequent trips to your fertility clinic so your doctor can make sure you’re responding well to the medicine. Expect to pay for the cost of multiple ultrasounds and bloodwork during this phase of egg freezing. Because you’ll be visiting the fertility clinic every other day during this period, you may need to account for any missed work and the associated costs.
After about 10 days to two weeks of taking the medication, if your ovaries have responded well, you’ll be ready for the egg retrieval process. This minor surgery will take place in your doctor’s office under anesthesia, which is another big cost.
Egg storage
Cost: $600 to $1,000 per year
Once your doctor has retrieved your eggs, they’re ready for freezing. They’ll be transferred into cryopreservation, and you will pay a yearly fee to keep them stored at a facility until you are ready for them to be thawed out and used. Some clinics charge upwards of $1,000 annually for storage.
Does insurance cover the cost of freezing your eggs?
Unfortunately, typical health insurance companies do not cover the cost of egg freezing, although there may be exceptions if your doctor has deemed it to be medically necessary. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and need to undergo chemotherapy, freezing your eggs is known as fertility preservation. Some states even require coverage for medically-necessary egg freezing by law.
If insurance is no help with your egg freezing costs, you may want to turn to your employer’s human resources department. Some companies have pledged to help their employees cover their egg freezing cost. Apple and Facebook, for example, cover up to $20,000 in costs for the procedure as an employee perk.
Become a Split member and freeze your eggs for free
Another option? Cofertility offers women a chance to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the retrieved eggs to a family that can’t otherwise conceive. The cost of the entire process, including 10 years of cryopreservation, is fully covered — we think it’s a win-win.
Or, if you want to freeze and store your eggs for your own future use without donating, Cofertility offers lower prices on things like consultations and storage, along with access to our community of freezers. Cofertility also partners with lenders to offer you fertility financial resources. Sunfish offers the most comprehensive marketplace of financial options for IVF, egg freezing, embryo preservations, gestational surrogacy, egg donations, and more, up to $100,000 at industry-low rates. For a white glove consultation or more information, contact Sunfish at [email protected]
Bottom line
Egg freezing costs vary from clinic to clinic, and insurance may not help foot the bill. Cofertility is doing everything we can to make egg freezing a financial reality, whether you’re looking to keep all of your eggs through the Freeze program or donate half through the Split program. You’ve got a lot to think about, but doing your homework is an important first step!
