Understanding the Financial aspect of Infertility

When it comes to infertility treatment, one solution does not fit all. The causes of infertility, its treatment options, and the coverage of your health insurance policy all affect the total and out-of-pocket costs you may expect when undergoing infertility treatment.

Because each patient’s fertility journey is unique, it is impossible to accurately list treatment costs online prior to personalized consultation. However, there are several resources to help you navigate the financial aspect of your treatment. At IHR, one of those resources is our team of dedicated Patient Financial Counselors, who are there from the beginning to help navigate and manage costs.

What is the role of the Patient Financial Counselors (PFC)?

The Patient Financial Counselor can help you with:

• Understanding the financial options at your disposal 
• Identifying what parts of your treatment plan are / are not covered by your current insurance plan
• Navigating a new insurance policy that you have recently switched to
• Providing information on third-party financing options 

What the financial counselor cannot help you with:

• Recommending a specific insurance policy (this is called collusion and ultimately works against patient interests).  
  

How will an PFCs help you throughout your treatment?

1. Before you begin your treatment at IHR, our Patient Financial Counselors (PFC) will do their best to obtain information regarding your current insurance so they may verify your benefits.
2. You will receive a call from one of our PFCs prior to meeting a physician, or within 24-48 hours of your meeting. In this call, the PFC assigned to you will help you understand what treatment options are included in your current insurance plan.
3. During your first meeting with one of our physicians, a treatment plan will be generated that is custom tailored to you, one that will provide you optimal chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby. 
4. Your personal PFCs will then provide you with the estimated costs that correspond to your personalized treatment plan, allowing you to prepare for the financial costs.  
5. You will receive a “Patient Service Agreement” that details everything that falls outside of your insurance coverage, so you will not be blind-sided by any future bills. This is referred to as your “Self Pay” portion. 
6. Your PFC can help you explore the best way to finance your IVF treatment, for example: personalized payment plan, alternate insurances, third party financing options, etc.
   

What happens if I start a payment plan and am unable to continue with it?

IHR is committed to make every effort to try to work with the patients during times of hardship. We recommend contacting your PFC right away, and they will work with you on a realistic plan. You may opt for smaller monthly payments, or be referred to third party loans. 

What other financing options are available to me?

You may chose to take out a loan in order to pay for your infertility treatment. In this case, we recommend using emBorrow, an installment financing option specifically for infertility and created by a woman who has been through the infertility process. A secondary lending institution we recommend is called Lending Club. They have a simple online application that quickly tells you if you qualify for a loan for fertility treatment - from medication to freezing, to the actual procedure, whatever you need. See our list of trusted partners for an updated list.

We also recommend seeking other lending institutions that you feel comfortable dealing with, or may give you a better interest rate. Depending on your insurance, it may be a good idea to look into purchasing a secondary insurance to cover some of the costs that are not covered by your first insurance. 

These factors vary and change over time, therefore your PFC will be able to provide you with the most up to date information. Take the time to get involved and do your research. Your PFC is here to help you, but we encourage you to become your own best advocate.