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The journey to conception is a long, difficult road...
If insurance does not cover infertility treatment, there are alternatives:
Cash:
If you have the means, some people may choose to pay for treatment out of pocket. Some people will
empty their checking and savings accounts. Others may take out a second mortgage. If an expensive
treatment is unsuccessful, they cannot afford a second try at a family.
Loan:
There are several companies that offer treatment loans. The ARC Affordable Payment Plan, for
example, helps make infertility treatment affordable; it provides an extended payment program for
dividing the cost of treatment into manageable monthly payments. IntegraMed Financial Services also
offers healthcare financing for any type of infertility treatment. Beware: The interest rates are usually
pretty high and you might be paying for your child until you send him to college.
Shared risk:
Many clinics offer shared risk programs that guarantee a baby. You pay a large amount upfront for
about 4 cycles of IVF. If you don't conceive, you are refunded a certain amount. There is some
controversy about whether these programs are ethical and safe for the mother and child.
Egg/Sperm Donation:
Someone else out there may need an egg or sperm donor. You are screened and tested. You help
someone else get pregnant. And you get paid. Some clinics will also offer shared cycles that allow
both donor and recipient to share the eggs and both try to get pregnant. Some doctors are hesitant to
offer this because of the stress on the donor. What if the recipient gets pregnant and the donor
doesn't?
From INCIID the Heart. The InterNational Council for Infertility Information Dissemination
(INCIID -- pronounced "inside") announces an ambitious new program -- From INCIID the Heart
-- to provide free In Vitro Fertilization to couples in need. INCIID, a non-profit organization, provides
information on Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) as well as support to thousands
around the world hoping to build a family.
Fertile Dreams. Fertile Dreams was established as a resource for those individuals without insurance
for fertility treatment. Every year, Fertile Dreams will select several individuals based on review of
their application and financial need and grant a $10,000 award toward an IVF cycle at any program in
the United States.
Affording Hope Infertility Foundation, Inc- They do not have their grant program finalized yet.
However, this is an organization to monitor. One of biggest hopes for this Foundation is to be able to
afford financial grant giving to those couples pursuing infertility treatments who do not have infertility
insurance.
Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation The Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation, a
nonprofit organization formed in 1995, assists married couples from Greater Cincinnati and Northern
Kentucky who have been unable to conceive and might not be able to afford in-vitro fertilization.
FertileHope Fertile Hope is proud to present Sharing Hope, a program to help increase access to egg,
embryo and sperm freezing for cancer patients.
Partnership for Families The Partnership for Families Program at the Cleveland Clinic Fertility
Center at Beachwood provides funding for a second cycle of IVF to couples who otherwise could not
afford another try. The program was founded by 23 couples whose lives have been affected by
infertility. Each recipient of a Partnership for Families Award receives $8,000 worth of IVF medical
services. In addition, Serono Pharmaceutical’s Helping Hands Fund provides $2,000 worth of
medications to each recipient.
I believe you have to be a patient of this clinic- but if you're already in Ohio, you should check it out
Fertility Assist- New program offering all Serono fertility medications free of charge to eligible
patients through Freedom Fertility Pharmacy™ for your third OI or IVF cycle if you have not been
successful after the prior two attempts.
Move:
15 states are required to cover or offer to cover infertility treatment. Many people are packing their
bags, finding new jobs, and relocating.
Go Abroad:
Many couples are travelling to other countries where IVF can be thousands of dollars cheaper than it
is in the United States. Please read the following article for concerns about regulation and success
outside of the US. Are the savings worth the risk?
Adoption:
There are plenty of children in this world that need loving homes and families. You can usually adopt
an older child from your local Social Services. However, most people are looking for babies.
Adopting a baby through an agency could cost more than any infertility treatment, but you will still be
giving that child a home. Stephen & Barbara Burke have a comprehensive list of adoption assistance
program.
Clinical Trials:
Doctors, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and scientists all over the country are holding clinical trials
and studies. Usually, these studies examine the causes of male and female infertility. Some may try to
develop or improve treatments. Clinics and doctors will give you a discount on treatment if you
participate. If you join a study primarily for IVF, you're out of luck. Due to cloning bans, clinical
trials are not allowed to do IVF. National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials site. INCIID also
maintains a list of clinical trials and studies.
Childlessness:
Some people find the infertility battle to be emotionally and financially exhausting. They surrender into
childlessness. This does not mean you love each other less because you can't conceive. You can
consider it more time to get to know the love of your life.
Become an advocate:
Write your legislators and representatives.
Sign a petition.
Discuss the issues with your human resources manager.
Cash:
If you have the means, some people may choose to pay for treatment out of pocket. Some people will
empty their checking and savings accounts. Others may take out a second mortgage. If an expensive
treatment is unsuccessful, they cannot afford a second try at a family.
Loan:
There are several companies that offer treatment loans. The ARC Affordable Payment Plan, for
example, helps make infertility treatment affordable; it provides an extended payment program for
dividing the cost of treatment into manageable monthly payments. IntegraMed Financial Services also
offers healthcare financing for any type of infertility treatment. Beware: The interest rates are usually
pretty high and you might be paying for your child until you send him to college.
Shared risk:
Many clinics offer shared risk programs that guarantee a baby. You pay a large amount upfront for
about 4 cycles of IVF. If you don't conceive, you are refunded a certain amount. There is some
controversy about whether these programs are ethical and safe for the mother and child.
Egg/Sperm Donation:
Someone else out there may need an egg or sperm donor. You are screened and tested. You help
someone else get pregnant. And you get paid. Some clinics will also offer shared cycles that allow
both donor and recipient to share the eggs and both try to get pregnant. Some doctors are hesitant to
offer this because of the stress on the donor. What if the recipient gets pregnant and the donor
doesn't?
From INCIID the Heart. The InterNational Council for Infertility Information Dissemination
(INCIID -- pronounced "inside") announces an ambitious new program -- From INCIID the Heart
-- to provide free In Vitro Fertilization to couples in need. INCIID, a non-profit organization, provides
information on Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) as well as support to thousands
around the world hoping to build a family.
Fertile Dreams. Fertile Dreams was established as a resource for those individuals without insurance
for fertility treatment. Every year, Fertile Dreams will select several individuals based on review of
their application and financial need and grant a $10,000 award toward an IVF cycle at any program in
the United States.
Affording Hope Infertility Foundation, Inc- They do not have their grant program finalized yet.
However, this is an organization to monitor. One of biggest hopes for this Foundation is to be able to
afford financial grant giving to those couples pursuing infertility treatments who do not have infertility
insurance.
Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation The Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation, a
nonprofit organization formed in 1995, assists married couples from Greater Cincinnati and Northern
Kentucky who have been unable to conceive and might not be able to afford in-vitro fertilization.
FertileHope Fertile Hope is proud to present Sharing Hope, a program to help increase access to egg,
embryo and sperm freezing for cancer patients.
Partnership for Families The Partnership for Families Program at the Cleveland Clinic Fertility
Center at Beachwood provides funding for a second cycle of IVF to couples who otherwise could not
afford another try. The program was founded by 23 couples whose lives have been affected by
infertility. Each recipient of a Partnership for Families Award receives $8,000 worth of IVF medical
services. In addition, Serono Pharmaceutical’s Helping Hands Fund provides $2,000 worth of
medications to each recipient.
I believe you have to be a patient of this clinic- but if you're already in Ohio, you should check it out
Fertility Assist- New program offering all Serono fertility medications free of charge to eligible
patients through Freedom Fertility Pharmacy™ for your third OI or IVF cycle if you have not been
successful after the prior two attempts.
Move:
15 states are required to cover or offer to cover infertility treatment. Many people are packing their
bags, finding new jobs, and relocating.
Go Abroad:
Many couples are travelling to other countries where IVF can be thousands of dollars cheaper than it
is in the United States. Please read the following article for concerns about regulation and success
outside of the US. Are the savings worth the risk?
Adoption:
There are plenty of children in this world that need loving homes and families. You can usually adopt
an older child from your local Social Services. However, most people are looking for babies.
Adopting a baby through an agency could cost more than any infertility treatment, but you will still be
giving that child a home. Stephen & Barbara Burke have a comprehensive list of adoption assistance
program.
Clinical Trials:
Doctors, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and scientists all over the country are holding clinical trials
and studies. Usually, these studies examine the causes of male and female infertility. Some may try to
develop or improve treatments. Clinics and doctors will give you a discount on treatment if you
participate. If you join a study primarily for IVF, you're out of luck. Due to cloning bans, clinical
trials are not allowed to do IVF. National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials site. INCIID also
maintains a list of clinical trials and studies.
Childlessness:
Some people find the infertility battle to be emotionally and financially exhausting. They surrender into
childlessness. This does not mean you love each other less because you can't conceive. You can
consider it more time to get to know the love of your life.
Become an advocate:
Write your legislators and representatives.
Sign a petition.
Discuss the issues with your human resources manager.