Options

arbeale · #1 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 05:32 AM

I just had a question. So we had the options talk with the RE yesterday and was told it was totally up to us. We could do another injectable cycle (Which is what I think we are going to do) or we could do IVF. The IVF for 1 cycle at our doctor costs 10,000.00 and shared risk costs 20,000.00. We get all our money back if there isn't a live birth with the shared risk and it includes everything except the preliminary testing. I was just wondering how you came up with the money? Did your doc have financial people there to help? etc. Could use some advice on this, because we would like to move to IVF if this last injectable cycle does not work. TIA

Nicky7 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 06:11 AM

Hi Andrea,

I don't have any magic answer as to how we came up with the money... we just did. In hindsight, I might have also done shared risk, but it's really a call you need to make with your RE and DH. All total, we spent about $60k out of pocket over a 12 month period (not including the stuff that was covered under medical & prescription plans). That's a boatload of cash.... but it was worth every single penny, and I'd have paid a lot more to get what we got.

Our RE's office did have a financial department, but it was really up to us to figure out how to come up with the cash. I wish you much luck, and hope that you hit the lotto ASAP!

Star622 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 07:22 PM

We paid out of pocket as well. Fortunately, our clinic was reasonably priced and I don't require a lot of meds. However, I never got pg using that clinic. The one thing I did was put 2 ivf cycles in a calendar year so I could claim it on my taxes. Then the money I got back was applied to my next round of ivf cycles. We did 2 in 2004 and 2 in 2006.

We were going to a new clinic for our 5th cycle when I got pg naturally, but we had decided we'd keep trying 1 cycle a year if we needed to.

We'd never be able to afford doing all that again. Shared risk wasn't an option for us. We were lucky to be in a place financially to be able to cover it.

You'll find a way. Good luck!

SmittyJr · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 07:33 PM

You're IVF nurse will connect you with a IVF financial person. I know one of the most popular IVF loans is through Capital One.

DH and I were fortunate enough to have our family pay for our first IVF. If we do it again, we would probably get a loan using the IVF financial chickie at our clinic. We don't have $10k sitting around, but we are fortunate to have the monthly budget to pick-up a loan payment.

ainara · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 07:50 PM

Wow... Andrea, well 10K for an IVF cycle is not a lot, my doctor charges $14,000 if you don't have insurance, we did have it and was about 6K in total (paying $300 deductible and after that 20%) and in my RE they help you w/Capital one medical card. I think if I didn't have insurance I would do the share risk choice, I met a lady that she's doing her 8th attempt with a share risk program but her problem is egg quality. Good luck, girl and whatever you decide we will be here to support you

NickiY · #6 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 08:01 PM

I did shared risk the first time around. It cost me around $16k plus meds. If you have access to an SHPS Flexing Spending account through work that is one way to help with cost or tax refunds as Nancy said. This time around I signed up for a couple of interest free credit cards and I'm paying them down as I can. I woudl guess that I have paid about $50k-$60k for IF stuff in total (4 IVF cycles, 3 Inj / IUIs plus all the testing etc). It's definitely tough but so worth it.

Justine · #7 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:13 AM

to everyone else said, we were also all self pay and our total so far we're not quite done yet, is 20K, however DH needed MESE which was 5K. I have found lots of hidden fees that they really don't tell you about. at least for us anyway, so make sure to ask about ALL the fees.

We used capital one because we didn't want to drain our savings and be left with nothing in the event of an emergency. (we have 5 adopted children, our own business, and I fly quite a bit as all family lives out of state). The best thing with cap one is no prepayment penalty so for me that was huge.

We also slashed our budget, and come up with quite a bit of money. and if we needed another cycle would have gone deeper and started cutting our services. and now since we are nearing completetion is a debt reduction plan, we have been there before and it truly is amazing how creative you can be.

You can do it!!!!!! Should you have any more questions, ask ask ask. Infertility sucks and we all know where you are!

Harlow · #8 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 01:08 PM

My husband and I have chewed through our savings and if this next cycle doesn't work we are going to try and refinance our house. How many cycles do you get in the 20K shared risk package?