Fertility financing – a top Cali clinic covers your FAQs

Fertility financing, and how to pay for IVF

Here’s our round-up of the different financial support options available for fertility treatment in the USA, plus answers to your top FAQs on fertility funding, from the leading California-based clinic Laurel Fertility Care.

Check your health insurance

How much of my fertility treatment will be covered by insurance? Well, it depends. Most insurance will cover the initial diagnostic tests, which includes your preliminary clinic visit, bloodwork, transvaginal ultrasound, an HSG and some surgeries such as a laparoscopy.

Certain companies offer insurance policies that cover your required fertility treatments too, including IUI and IVF. Currently, insurance only covers family-building costs in 19 states, and coverage has restrictions, like making IUI compulsory before starting IVF, and only in participating clinics in your area, so it’s quite a ZIP code lottery.

Reach out to your insurance provider and really dig into exactly what they cover. You may be pleasantly surprised at the answer, and if they can’t help, you’ll know then that it’s time to take another route.

Keep in mind that full fertility care is rarely covered by healthcare benefits, so after the diagnostics phase (if paid for), you’ll likely need to find alternative means of funding.

Apply for IVF grants 

If you can demonstrate hardship, charitable grants are another avenue that can help fund your treatment plan. Grants are provided by not-for-profit organizations to help intended parents. To be eligible for a grant you need to meet certain requirements, which vary from one institution to the next.

It’s worth taking a look at the latest grants available to you and spending time on a few applications. Most grants are awarded based on income; others take into account your personal situation and medical history as well. There are also grants specifically for cancer survivors where fertility has been affected.

Grant amounts vary dramatically from $500 anywhere up to full coverage of £15,000+. It really depends on your situation and the institution in question, but it’s definitely worth a look.

Consider taking out an IVF loan

For the vast majority of us, taking out a loan is the most feasible option. You can take out a regular bank loan, or there are various IVF funding programs which you can find via your fertility clinic. For many people this is preferable, as it allows you to manage the whole process in one place (cutting down on the admin) and get guidance from people who understand your situation.

Importantly, some IVF funding bodies offer partial or even full refunds on unsuccessful treatment. If you don’t get the results you’re looking for, the disappointment can be really difficult; a refund gives you the option to try again, pivot or change your plans with your team or simply support yourself while you decide your next move.

Wherever you get it, taking out a loan does mean taking on debt that you will have to deal with in the future, so it’s not a decision you should take lightly. Like a regular loan, you’ll need to pay it back within a set timeframe. Your clinic can help assess your budget and make the best decision – for today and tomorrow.

Visit a reputable clinic

The best fertility clinics will be able to help you ascertain your options and make a plan accordingly. An initial consultation should be free or low cost; this is an opportunity to assess your financing options, including what you can afford and payment plans, as well as what to expect should treatment be unsuccessful.

Laurel Fertility Care is a boutique clinic, where patient experience and a truly tailored treatment plan are wrapped into that all-important spend. With Laurel Fertility Care, you are never a number.