The Cost of IVF: Tips and Resources

I’m a reproductive endocrinologist helping people build their families for over 15 years through fertility treatments. I practice in Seattle, Washington, and many of my patients are concerned about coverage. 

This concern can be pertinent to anybody in the United States, particularly in these times. Not every state requires coverage for fertility treatment. Different states have different coverage requirements, and, on top of that, different employers have different coverage plans. It’s confusing and frustrating, especially given that the World Health Organization defines infertility as a disease that benefits from medical treatment. 

I’m writing this blog post to help you figure out your coverage and help you get the information that you need to determine the costs of IVF. You’ll discover five tips and resources to explore as you consider in vitro fertilization.

1. Figure out where you live and what that means.

Only 19 states have mandated coverage for testing or treatment for infertility at the time of writing this post. Even though coverage may be mandated, testing and treatment coverage are not always black and white.

To learn about insurance coverage in your state, I often recommend the wonderful site Resolve.org. The site is an excellent resource that gives state-level specifics to help you. I especially appreciate the clarity of this map about each state’s infertility coverage requirements. 

Resolve.org’s website equips you with tools to get the complete picture of your coverage. (Even if you live in a mandated state, there can be grey areas regarding insurance.) For example, three questions you should ask your employer are:

1. Are you fully insured or self-insured? Fully insured plans must follow state insurance laws, but self-insured/self-funded are exempt from this requirement.) 
   

2. Is your plan a “greater than 25” plan, a “greater than 50” plan, etc.? It’s essential to ask this because smaller employee plans can have exceptions. Some states do not require coverage laws to be followed if your insurance plan is below a certain threshold of employees, which can affect the coverage you receive for fertility treatment. 
   

3. Was your insurance policy written in the governed state? There might be some exemptions if the policy was written elsewhere.

2. Figure out where you work, along with your coverages and benefits.

As mentioned above, I happen to work in Washington state, which is not a mandated state for fertility treatment coverage. This means that companies in this state are not legally required to provide their employees with coverage. 

However, even though it isn’t required, there are many companies with fertility benefits in Washington. For example, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon provide fertility benefits to their employees. 

I bring this up to empower you to ask questions. Go to your HR department or ask your insurance provider if you have benefits for fertility treatment. Don't make assumptions that state laws will prevent you from receiving coverage. You may have more than you think. 

Resolve.org has incredible resources on advocating for fertility benefits with your HR department, so be sure to look. If your employer doesn’t cover fertility benefits, you could speak up and make a significant change within your company. 

Another great resource is InHerSight’s summary of 57 companies offering insurance benefits. I’m not sure if this is entirely up to date, but it’s a valuable starting point.

3. Ask your fertility clinic.

The billing team is there to help you. In fact, this group might be the first place you start after your initial fertility doctor appointment. 

Getting information from your clinic’s billing team can be as simple as stating, “I’m planning to do fertility treatment. Can you help me figure out if I have coverage or not?” 

The billing team will know your state’s requirements, and they might even know the insurance details of your employer. If there isn’t coverage, they can also help with options that are available to you. 

4. Explore fertility grants.

Fertility grants are available if you seek fertility treatment but don’t have insurance coverage. I happen to be on the board of BabyQuest Foundation, a fantastic organization that has helped many families.

BabyQuest isn’t the only grant program out there. The best and most comprehensive list of fertility grants is available on (you guessed it) Resolve.org, which links to organizations’ websites and additional information. 

You can also research your community and city to discover more fertility grants. A simple Google search for fertility grants might help you find something you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. 

5. Connect with other fertility warriors.

The fertility community is incredible. Everyone is so supportive of each other. Whenever I post information about the cost of IVF on social media, many people share excellent tips. I recently learned about a Facebook Group called Paying for IVF, where people share information and resources to help each other. 

You can find support within your existing network too. If you know friends who have gone through fertility treatments, talk to them. Ask local medical providers, such as your primary doctor or any nurses you know. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and it can help you. 

Let’s recap.

• Infertility is a disease that benefits from medical treatment. Coverage should be universal, but it’s not in the United States now. 

• Learn more about your state and determine if you’ve mandated fertility coverage.

• Ask your employer (HR department) to look into your health benefits.

• Use your clinic’s billing team as a resource.

• Look into fertility grants.

• Get personal recommendations from friends and people you trust.

I sincerely hope this post is helpful. If you have additional questions, please comment on my YouTube video. You also might like my other resources about IVF, including Things You Need to Know Before Starting IVF.