There are tons of misconceptions when it comes to infertility treatments, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Many of these misconceptions have to do with the costs of the procedure. So many of our patients visit us with the expectation of leaving with a horribly expensive bill, but that’s not the case at Arizona Center for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility.
At every consultation, we take the time to educate our patients, answer their questions, and give them all the information they need to feel financially confident in their decision to grow their family. Here are five of the most common misconceptions we hear, and what you really need to know about the cost of IVF.
1. It’ll cost the same at any clinic.
The cost of fertility treatments vary state to state and clinic to clinic. Something as seemingly inconsequential as the cost of rent can affect the overall price you pay. Some centers, like ours, offer IVF package pricing to help make the cost reasonable. We understand that paying for something this significant can be stressful and we don’t want cost to be a factor in your decision to fulfill your dream of becoming a parent. We actively try to keep costs low; two of the ways we do this by offering in-house lab testing and giving you the freedom to purchase your own medications outside of our clinic, which allows you to find the cheapest option.
2. I’ll need to save for years and years to afford it.
It’s important to us to be able to help all our patients achieve a pregnancy, regardless of their income. Several couples do save for years to be able to pay for treatments, but that isn’t a necessity for everyone. We also offer pre-pay for services to patients in order to ease the burden on the day of procedure.
3. I’ll have to pay for everything out of pocket.
Unfortunately, there is partial truth to this misconception. While some great companies (such as Starbucks, Bank of America, Pinterest, and Intel) offer infertility insurance coverage, most do not, and many of our patients do need to pay out of pocket for at least a portion of procedures. However, even if you don’t have specific fertility coverage, several of the underlying medical conditions that cause infertility may still be covered. In fact, some, if not all, procedures and evaluations are covered by some type of insurance for at least 90 percent of our couples.
4. IVF is my only option, and it’s expensive.
When you come in for your initial consultation, we review all your infertility treatment options. Sometimes, IVF makes the most sense to try, that isn’t always the case. We’ll always try to start with the most basic, low-tech, low-cost option for solving your infertility before jumping into IVF. This means you may never have to pay for the costlier treatment. Even if IVF does become a need, we do our best to keep our costs reasonable.
5. I’ve got to figure this out all on my own.
At AZCREI, we know that the medical aspects of infertility treatments can be stressful enough, so we try to do everything in our power to reduce the financial burden and make the cost of treatments affordable. Our team is on your side and we’ll work with you to examine your insurance coverage and explore your cost options. You don’t have to take this journey alone in any sense; we’re here to answer your questions and walk with you through it all.
Our goal is to help you achieve a pregnancy and have a healthy baby, not be burdened with financial stress. For more information on what starting a family may cost you, visit the Arizona Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility online or call us at 520-326-0001.