Cost of In Vitro Fertilization (Cost of IVF)

Are you trying to get pregnant but have been told you need IVF? Do you have to bear the IVF cost yourselves? The cost of in vitro fertilization is significant and can vary depending on what procedures you need in addition to basic IVF treatment. The prices can also vary depending your location due to fertility clinics having their own prices. Therefore, it may be wise to conduct some research and compare prices, if it is all inclusive, as well as fertility specialist recommendations.

While the total price will vary depending on your particular circumstances and clinic, the basic cost for IVF in the USA is generally the same.

The cost of in vitro fertilization in the USA ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 per treatment, including medication.

While the average cost for basic IVF treatemnt is about $12,000, if you need any additional assisted reproductive technology procedures, the cost will be usually higher. For example, you may need one or more of the following:

• ICSI procedure (where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg), may increase the price by $1,000.
• PGD, or genetic testing of embryos costs about $3,000.
• Empbryo freezing
• Donated sperm costs $200 to $3,000 extra
• Using egg donor: IVF with egg donor cost about 25,000 to 30,000 for one cycle.
• Embryo donation is the least expensive of the donor options, and it's often cheaper than a regular IVF cycle. An embryo donor cycle costs anywhere between $5,000 and $7,000. This is assuming the embryo has already been created (as opposed to choosing an egg donor and sperm donor, and having the embryo created specifically for your cycle, which would be extremely expensive).

During your research, you need to find out what your insurance policy covers. The majority of insurance policies do not cover IVF, and if they do, they may not cover the full cost of IVF. It is best to confirm with your insurance agent to know if limitations do exist and what is and isn't covered. Your insurance policy may include some specific treatment options when it comes to infertility.

If your insurance does not pay of the whole bill for the procedures you want or only covers part of it, there are other financing options available. Most fertility clinics provide multiple payment plans and financing options to help make IVF treatment more affordable for couples undergoing treatments.

You may also qualify for a refund program, where you pay a set fee, usually between $20,000 and $30,000, and the clinic will refund part your money if you do not get pregnant after three or four IVF treatment cycles. Not all couples qualify, and the terms vary from clinic to clinic.

Before deciding on a refund program, make sure you understand what is considered a successful cycle: a positive pregnancy test or a successful birth. If the refund program considers a positive pregnancy test a success, and you have a miscarriage, then you’ve lost your chance for the refund and another treatment cycle under the program.

While you compare the prices of various clinics, you should also look at their success rates. When studying the success rates of various IVF clinics it is important to understand that pregnancy rates do not equate to live birth rates, so always check what the statistics are presenting. If an IVF clinic is cheaper, but their success rates are low, you may need more cycles to have a baby, making the overall cost higher.