8 Ways to Make Egg Freezing/IVF More Affordable

Egg freezing has become an increasingly popular option for women who want to preserve their fertility and have children in the future. However, not surprisingly, one of the biggest barriers to egg freezing is cost.

Egg freezing is expensive, with costs ranging from $10,000 - $25,000 for one cycle. On top of that, it's common to undergo multiple cycles in order to retrieve the "optimal" 15-20 eggs. The majority of costs come from treatment and medications, but storage fees also add up over time.

Here's the breakdown of costs for a typical cycle. These numbers are from researching multiple clinic costs and my experience as a Fertility RN.

Why is there such a big range in cost? It's complicated, but overall, it's because every person is different. Let me explain this further by breaking down an example. Let's say your prescreening bloodwork, ultrasound, and other diagnostic testing indicate that you have diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Let's also say that your body doesn't respond to stimulation medications quickly, so you need more meds at higher doses (more $). Because of this, you may require a longer period of time to grow your follicles (meaning more monitoring appointments and more $). **A DOR diagnosis does not automatically mean you will have a $30,000 cycle, this was just a made-up example.**

There's no beating around the bush here, many people simply cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket, and insurance coverage for egg freezing is limited. This is a major source of stress and anxiety for those considering this option. It's a difficult decision to make, especially if you feel you have to choose between pursuing egg freezing/IVF and other important financial goals, such as buying a home or paying off debt.

That being said, I wanted to create a detailed post full of "ways to save" for my clients and others hoping to freeze their eggs someday. Let's explore the 8 Ways to Make Egg Freezing/IVF More Affordable :

1. Donate half of your retrieved eggs with a donating program.

I know this isn't for everyone, but if you're willing to donate half of your retrieved eggs to those struggling to build their family, you can freeze your eggs for free.

Ova Fertility's Shared Egg Freezing Program

Ova Fertility is a fertility clinic that offers a unique shared egg-freezing option. This program allows women to freeze their eggs for free (including medications!) when they donate half of their retrieved eggs to Ova's Egg Donor Program. You must be approved to be an egg donor (you will need to meet certain requirements listed here) and you must be local or willing to travel for an extended period of time to one of Ova Fertility's clinics in Santa Barbara, Atlanta, New York City, or St. Louis.

CoFertility's Split Program

CoFertility has a very similar program to the one above with slightly different criteria. If approved for the program, you keep half of your eggs upon retrieval and the other half will go to the person or couple who selected you as their donor. This will be completely free of cost to the egg donor, including medications and travel. You would be expected to travel to the fertility clinic (you don't have to go alone, your partner is invited and their travel is covered as well) selected by the egg recipient.

2. Pharmacy Shop

Fertility medications are expensive, sometimes insanely expensive. For one round of egg freezing, you can expect to pay $3,000-$10,000 for medications alone. Doing some research yourself can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. By research, I mean asking your clinic (before you start your treatment cycle) what meds you will be prescribed and writing them all down (doses included!). Then, call different pharmacies for quotes on their self-pay rates. Ask specifically if they have any discounts or coupons for the medications you need;

Freedom Fertility Pharmacy offers discount programs.

Pharmacy shopping and researching for discount coupons/programs is huge. I've saved clients thousands of dollars by pharmacy shopping.

*This only applies to self-pay, because if your insurance pays for your meds, they will likely require the use of a particular specialty pharmacy.*

3. Apply for Fertility Treatment Grants

Applying for scholarships and grants is a great way to make fertility treatment more accessible. Some of the eligibility criteria are very specific, but if you're looking to cut costs, it's worth exploring. I made a list of 17 grants and scholarships:

4. Research for Fertility Clinic Deals

Fertility clinics will periodically run special deals for treatments like egg freezing. For instance,

Kindbody Fertility Clinic is offering 25% off egg freezing cycles this summer through 9/1/23. There are a few things the discount doesn't apply to (the consultation and certain diagnostic testing), but this deal seems to be really amazing for those seeking one round of IVF or egg freezing. Kindbody has clinics all over the United States: click here to see if there is a clinic near you. *This is a big one! If your cycle costs around $20,000, you could save $5,000 with this deal.*

A little pro tip: I've seen a few clinics advertise things like "Freeze your eggs for only 3k!", but after reading the fine print of what was covered, it was a small portion of the required care. If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, put on your detective hat and do your research/ask questions!

5. Explore the option of working for a company that offers fertility benefits

I know this might sound a bit crazy, but if you're not happy in your current position, or open to moving jobs, this isn't a bad idea to achieve your fertility goals. Because of this, I created a list of 112 companies that offer fertility benefits. Essentially, you could save yourself a lot of money by working for a progressive company that values its employees.

If you don't see your company on the list, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask if you have fertility treatment coverage AND medication coverage. Sometimes you can be surprised!

6. Talk to your Accountant about Tax Saving

When you're ready to do your taxes, talk to your accountant about your fertility treatment. You may be eligible to deduct treatment, medications, and travel. Here is a list of tips and tricks from Shady Grove Fertility to make the most of your potential tax deductions.

7. Research Financing Programs

Many fertility clinics offer their own financing programs for their patients. I recommend you start with a conversation with your clinic. There are also plenty of third-party financing options as well; Resolve has an extensive list of options.

8. Talk to someone who knows the ins and outs of fertility costs/benefits

This could be your clinic nurse or doctor, a financial counselor, or me! Understanding the subtleties of cost, cycle expectations, and your insurance's role in egg freezing could end up saving you a lot of money.

For example, if your company offers 20k for fertility coverage (lifetime maximum), and your current plan with your clinic is to undergo 3 rounds of IVF, it would make sense to use your 20k for fertility treatment only, and pay out-of-pocket for your medications. This is because specialty pharmacies offer MAJOR discounts to self-pay patients. So instead of draining 6k (full price rate charged to your insurance company) from your 20k maximum, you could pay 3k ( heavily discounted self-pay rate) and save the other 3k to put toward treatment.

By doing your research, exploring your options, and seeking guidance from professionals, you could save thousands on your fertility treatment journey!

Please reach out if you have any questions or if I could further explain any of these concepts and, as always, I'm here to help you navigate your fertility treatment cycles! Visit www.fertilitytreatmentsupport.com to learn more!