If you’ve just been told that you’re best chance of having a baby is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), there are many decisions you’ll need to make. Will you be able to juggle all of the tests, exams, medications, and monitoring visits? And how will you pay for treatment? This second question is one that most fertility patients struggle with as they realize what their insurance policies will actually cover. Despite how common infertility is, very few insurance plans cover the full cost of treatment. This often leaves couples scrambling to figure out how to pay out of pocket for a variety of procedures and medications.
To help patients navigate how to afford the fertility treatments they need to build the families of their dreams, Dr. Walid Saleh of SIRM Dallas is here to go over a few options for patients struggling with how to cover their costs.
Understand Your Insurance Plan
Most insurance plans in Texas won’t cover the full cost of IVF or other fertility treatments. But while your plan may not cover everything, some tests and procedures may be covered depending on your plan. Many insurance plans SIRM Dallas contracts with cover things such as diagnostic testing and consultations, lowering the overall cost to patients. It’s important for patients to reach out to their insurance providers and fully understand what is covered under their plan and what they’ll be responsible for. It may be that more is covered than you initially thought, and learning the details of your plan will help you minimize the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.
Take Advantage of Discount Programs
If you’re planning to undergo In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), there is a strong likelihood that you will need more than one cycle in order to achieve a pregnancy. At SIRM Dallas, we offer multi-cycle discounts through our Attain IVF program, which will increase your chances of bringing home a baby while minimizing your costs. For those that meet the clinical criteria, the Attain IVF Program offers up to a 100% refund if you do not take home a baby!
There are also discount programs available for fertility medications. Programs like the Compassionate Care Program help income-eligible patients with discounts of 50%-75% on fertility medications. These types of programs could end up saving patients thousands of dollars.
Research Financing Options
Paying for the full cost of treatment up front can be out of reach for many patients. At SIRM Dallas, we offer multiple healthcare-specific financing options for patients. These partners often offer interest rates below what patients can find elsewhere, lowering the overall financial burden. Depending on the program, the financing options can cover everything from medications to retrievals and transfers. Learn more about our lending partners today.
Apply for Grant Programs
RESOLVE, the national infertility association, provides information about a variety of nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance to infertility patients throughout the country. These organizations offer grants and scholarships to couples throughout the country who are struggling to pay for fertility treatment. While most of these grants only cover part of the cost of treatment, they can significantly reduce a patient’s financial burden by thousands of dollars.
Whether you pay for your fertility treatment through your insurance plan, using discount and grant programs, financing, or a mix of all of the above, the fertility specialists of SIRM Dallas have a team of financial counselors available to help all patients figure out the best way to make fertility treatment more affordable. If you are struggling with infertility and would like additional information on how to make your treatment more affordable, contact us at 972-566-6686.