April 19th, 2023 | 12 min. read
While fertility treatments like IVF are an amazing pathway to parenthood for many people, it’s no secret that they are also expensive - and many insurance plans won't cover all the costs. Many hopeful parents are left wondering how to pay for IVF without insurance coverage.
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Dreaming of growing your family?
You're in the right place! It's likely that you’ve already done some research about your various fertility treatment options, and now you want some honest answers to one of the greatest hurdles of infertility: paying for treatment.
It's no secret that the cost of procedures, testing and medication can quickly add up and make your family-building goals feel out of reach.
Your head is probably spinning as you dive deeper into the financial aspect of getting the care you need. If you're thinking, “How in the world will I afford this?! Is my only option to pay it all out-of-pocket? Can I get any financial help?” know that you're not alone.
So take a nice, deep breath and keep reading to discover the grants, loans, payment plans and other financial resources available to you. Because even if your insurance plan doesn’t fully cover everything you need, there are other options out there to help you achieve your family-building goals, and we're here to help you find them!
💡 Have insurance? Explore which insurance plans Illume Fertility accepts, and learn about New York and Connecticut's state mandates, which require most insurance companies to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment.
You Deserve to Have the Family of Your Dreams
At Illume Fertility, we firmly believe that money should not stand in the way of your future family. That's why we have actively advocated for the past 20 years to push for policy change that removes barriers to care - on both the state and federal level.
While it can feel overwhelming to think about the financial implications of IVF, know that there are many organizations, dedicated advocates, and lawmakers fighting for increased access to fertility care every single day.
Our hope is always that you get the chance to have the baby you've been longing for.
How much does IVF cost in 2023?
One cycle of IVF can cost anywhere from $12,850 to $24,250 on average. While those numbers are daunting, don’t get duped by the “cheap IVF” scams out there. Even though the lower advertised numbers may seem attractive, it's important to understand what's included, what services will be considered add-ons, and what you’ll have to pay upfront.
It’s important to learn about the true cost of IVF and other fertility treatments in order to understand where your money is going and just how much you will be expected to pay fully out of pocket.
While evaluating all of your options for affording treatment, it’s important to take the time to check in with your current health insurance provider to see if they will cover any of the costs.
Where to Begin
This is the time to be your own best advocate. Review your specific policy to explore which infertility-related services are covered and ask your insurer questions to help clarify anything that may be unclear. (We all know insurance lingo can be confusing!)
💡 Pro tip: Inquire to see if your employer offers any sort of fertility benefits. You may also be able to tap into your HSA and FSA accounts to help to cover fertility costs.
We know this can be quite overwhelming to navigate alone, so it’s best to sit down with a financial coordinator at your fertility clinic to crunch the numbers and get concrete answers.
Here at Illume Fertility, we offer a unique team approach to fertility care, which includes a designated Insurance & Billing Advocate. They are the go-to person for any cost-related questions throughout your journey.
How to Pay for IVF Without Insurance
Now that you have a clearer picture of the costs involved, it’s time to consider your payment options for affording fertility treatment without insurance. You might assume the only choice is credit card or cash. While those are certainly options for some, they aren’t suitable for everyone.
Thankfully, with opportunity plans, loans and grants available to help qualifying individuals with the costs associated with fertility treatments, more and more hopeful parents are able to realize their dreams.
Let's talk about IVF grants first!
Help is available:
Get our free guide to Financial Planning for Fertility Treatment to understand your insurance coverage, state mandates, financing options and more.
IVF Grants
It comes as a surprise to many that there are IVF grants available to help families afford fertility treatments. Sure, it can be time-consuming to navigate the qualifying terms and fill out applications, but it's worth it - you could receive full or partial funding for your treatment from one of these grants!
It’s important to note that grants typically have stipulations as to where you can go for treatment, and conversely, not all clinics accept all grants. You’ll need to make sure your grant inquiries match your chosen fertility clinic.
We recommend exploring the following trusted organizations and services to see what options are currently available to you:
Nest Egg Foundation
This Connecticut based not-for-profit provides financial grants for IVF treatment to those who have been unable to start their families due to financial need. The grant will cover up to $20,000 of treatment and funding can be used at one of the two Connecticut Centers of Excellence (Illume Fertility being one of them).
Compassionate Care Program
The Compassionate Care Program provides eligible patients with savings based on income. Eligible patients may save 25% to 75% off the self-pay price of EMD Serono’s fertility medications.
Baby Quest Foundation
Baby Quest Foundation provides financial assistance through fertility grants to those who cannot afford the high costs of procedures such as IVF, gestational surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, egg freezing, and embryo donation.
Grants are awarded two times per year and vary in amount.
The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation
The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation’s Family Building Grant is an annual award that provides up to $10,000 to families to assist with the costs associated with infertility treatment or domestic adoption.
Family Building Grants can take the form of a cash award that is payable directly to the clinic or agency, or as a medication award that will be sent to the fertility clinic of the recipient.
Hope for Fertility
Hope for Fertility’s National Grant helps couples overcome the financial difficulties that come with fertility treatments and can be applied to the clinic's in-house costs of the medical procedures or costs associated with the adoption process.
Typically, grants are awarded twice a year but may be more or less frequent. Grant amounts range from $250 to $5,000. A $50 application fee is required and is considered a donation, which may be tax deductible.
Parental Hope
Parental Hope offers two types of family-building grants to those struggling with infertility. The IVF grant covers the full cost of a standard IVF cycle. The FET grant covers the full cost of one frozen embryo transfer.
Starfish Infertility Foundation
This not-for-profit foundation, started by a couple who struggled with the high costs of infertility, offers three different grants. The grants can be used towards treatment at any fertility clinic that is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).
- The Bexleigh Grant is awarded to couples living within 100 miles of Nashville, TN who are uninsured for fertility treatments and without the financial resources to personally fund treatments.
- The Braxton Grant and The Hatch Grant are both awarded to couples living in the U.S. who are uninsured for fertility treatments and without the financial resources to personally fund treatments.
Fertility Treatment Loans
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of fertility financing programs and services that assist in covering costs for treatment.
While the research and application process can be tedious, it’s important to contact each organization or company to determine if their plan is the right fit for you. Taking the time to do your due diligence can be the difference between you achieving your goals sooner or putting off fertility treatment for yet another year.
EggFund
Started by an individual struggling with infertility, EggFund offers personalized loans for those who need financial help in growing their family. Financing options are available through Fiona, a loan service that searches, compares and recommends the best loan offers from top providers.
Loans are offered up to $100,000 and the APR ranges from 3.84% to 35.99%, based on your credit and lender’s underwriting criteria.
EggFund’s clients can finance all aspects of the process, including medical treatment, testing, and medication; agency, attorney and storage fees.
Lending Club
This lender works with hundreds of providers nationwide and offers monthly payments as low as $263 per month. Lending Club offers one payment for up to three services including IVF, medications, genetic testing, fertility preservation and donor services.
Interest rates range from 4.99 to 24.99%. Visit their online payment calculator to learn more.
Ally Lending
Ally Lending (formerly Health Credit Services) offers financing for IVF treatment, medication and other fertility-related services, with interest rates ranging from 3.99 to 21.99%.
New Life Agency
New Life provides insurance for fertility patients, intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and the professionals of the assisted reproduction medical industry. Various infertility plans are available. You can call 877-952-5433 to discuss options with a representative.
Prosper Healthcare Lending
Prosper offers financing plans with low interest rates and fixed monthly payments. Individuals can finance up to $35,000 and pay it back with no retroactive interest or prepayment penalties.
ReUnite Assist Program
The ReUnite Assist program provides discounts on specific fertility drugs for eligible patients.
Financial Planning Guide
Whether you're confused about state mandates or want a list of questions to ask your insurance provider, we've got you covered with our free guide.
Fertility Clinic Packages & Plans
Most fertility clinics offer special packages or bundled services in order to make fertility treatment more accessible to hopeful parents seeking assistance.
At Illume Fertility, we offer several service and payment options for those who do not have insurance coverage. Our goal is ensuring that everyone can access the high-quality care they need at the most affordable prices possible.
Here are some of the customized opportunity plans Illume offers:
- Fertility testing
- Egg freezing
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Donor egg
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Surrogacy
These self-pay plans include discounts and bundled services to help those paying for treatment out-of-pocket achieve their goals sooner.
Have a question about our Opportunity Plans? Reach out to speak with an expert!
Other Financial Considerations
In addition to figuring out how to pay for IVF without insurance, it's critical to plan ahead for both the fertility treatment process and the financial implications of becoming a parent.
Here are a few important aspects to consider:
Is everything included?
Some fertility clinic IVF treatment packages do not include additional essential procedures, appointments and other treatment-related expenses. Always review all the fine print and ask questions when you're uncertain about anything.
What if you need multiple cycles?
While some patients find success after just one IVF cycle, others require multiple cycles in order to achieve pregnancy. Various factors (including your age, genetics, ovarian reserve, and quality of egg and sperm) impact your chances of success, so it's important to know you may need multiple rounds of IVF to become a parent.
What can I realistically afford?
Before making big financial decisions, carefully consider your current and future projected income, any available savings, parental leave plans, existing debt, and other factors that may affect your ability to comfortably make monthly payments on a fertility treatment loan, for example.
How much will it cost to raise a child?
Don't forget to plan for life after IVF. Factor in the price of diapers, clothes and other needed items, plus childcare, food and other essentials for baby. On average, raising a child now costs around $17,000 per year, according to the most recent reports from the USDA.
Keep in mind: Being thoughtful about finances now will allow you to focus on pregnancy and parenthood without scrambling to factor in financial surprises.
You Deserve Access to Care
If you’re ready to take the next step but feel overwhelmed by the price tag of treatment, know that you have options, and we're here to help.
Take time to understand the true cost of treatment, what options are available to help make treatments more affordable, and get connected with expert support to begin your journey.
We know the financial piece of infertility can feel just as overwhelming as the physical and emotional ones - and we're here to help you navigate them all. Contact us today to start your journey and get the support you need to succeed as you grow your family.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Reach out now to get your IVF cost questions answered and schedule a consultation.
We're here to help.
Contact us today to get your IVF cost questions answered and schedule a consultation with one of our eight award-winning fertility specialists.