Fertility financing guide 2024 – the options & benefits to know, if you’re based in the US

From fertility savings programs to IVF financing options, Google is full of questions about fertility financing and ways we can support the cost of our treatment – and it’s no wonder.

Costs play a huge part when it comes to accessing fertility care in the US, and they can really add up, especially with your prescribed fertility medications factored in. 

If you do have private or commercial insurance, you may end up finding that it doesn’t go far enough compared to your family-building goals, and if you are paying out of pocket, you might be wondering where to start finding ways to help fund your journey.

IVF is stressful enough, without having to worry about the financial barriers. That’s why we’ve partnered with world-leading fertility pharmaceutical innovator EMD Serono to create this bird’s-eye view of the financing options that might be available to you, in 2024. 

EMD Serono’s fertility savings programs are designed to make fertility treatments more affordable through easing the costs of your prescribed fertility medication, for eligible patients who qualify. Want to know if that’s you? Complete the Fertility LifeLines Savings Screener here – it only takes a couple of minutes.

Now, let’s get into it.

Fertility financing in the US – where are we at, in 2024?

In 2024, fertility financing in the US has made significant strides, with specialized financing programs emerging to support individuals and couples seeking assistance, as well as more employers recognizing the importance of offering fertility benefits. 

Also, advocacy efforts for government support are continuing in force thanks to organizations like RESOLVE, aiming to address the need for more comprehensive coverage and support at both state and federal levels. 

Despite these advancements though, challenges around affordability and accessibility remain. And generally speaking, treatment costs must typically be covered through two avenues – insurance, or self-pay.

What are the main fertility financing options?

1. Private or commercial insurance coverage

Simply put, financing your fertility treatment through insurance coverage will mean that you’re able to lean on your insurance to cover your treatment plan, whether that’s through your own medical insurance, or insurance provided by your employer.

Insurance coverage types are wide-ranging, and can vary in both:

• How they cover – this could look like coverage up to a maximum cost, or for a maximum number of cycles
• How much they cover – this refers to how much of the expenses related to your treatment will be paid for by your insurance

With insurance coverage, it’s important to work with your clinic and pharmacy to understand how your coverage matches up against your diagnosis, treatment and cycle type.

From there, you can work through whether there are opportunities to separate the costs of the treatment cycle itself, from the medications needed to support it. 

If this is possible, there may be the opportunity to apply for fertility savings programs like EMD Serono’s Fertility LifeLines program to potentially save on the cost of your prescribed fertility medications.

Sometimes, this can mean carving out your medication costs from your plan coverage, too. 

2. Third-party financial assistance programs

If you’re going down the self-pay route, working out where to start might feel overwhelming. 

However, the process can actually end up being a bit more straightforward, as more varied financial support options may be available to you.

You’ll need to start by understanding the costs of your diagnosis and treatment. From there, you’ll be able to work out which programs may be available to you, and whether you’d like to use them to support your journey. 

These can range from fertility-specific loans, and applying for grants or awards through fertility patient advocacy organizations, to applying for savings programs through fertility product or medication manufacturers, like EMD Serono.

3. In-clinic financing options, discounts and rebates

It might be worth asking your clinic about how they can support you if you’re paying out of pocket, too.  

IVF payment plans are available through select clinics, providing you with the opportunity to divide the treatment costs over a specified timeframe for greater financial manageability. 

More and more clinics also offer IVF refund or rebate packages. These ensure financial protection for you by reimbursing either a portion or the entirety of the costs of treatment if you don’t end up having a baby.

Your fertility financing options – helpful questions to ask

Asking the right questions can provide clarity, and also help you plan effectively if you’re self-funding part, or all, of your treatment. 

To help you get clear on which of the options above might be available to you, bookmark these questions.

Ask your clinic or provider:

• For a clear breakdown of all the costs associated with your treatment
• How to determine the total cost of your medications, in particular
• Whether they accept any insurance plans
• Whether they offer any financing options or payment plans to help manage the costs of treatment
• Which extra costs could come up, such as storage fees for frozen embryos
• When in treatment payment usually happens

The program to know, for savings on medication costs

Fertility LifeLines is a pioneering, first-of-its-kind savings program to help eligible patients who are paying out of pocket for their prescribed EMD Serono Fertility Medications. With nearly 139,000 patients enrolled between 2013 and 2023, the program has helped save an estimated $69 million in total. 

The super easy application process is designed to ensure eligible applicants find their way to the best program and price in the least amount of time – it’ll take you less than five minutes, in fact. 

Am I eligible?

Fertility LifeLines is available for any eligible patient with a prescription for an EMD Serono Fertility medication, regardless of diagnosis or cycle type. This includes patients undergoing ovarian induction with stimulation, IVF, egg freezing, as well as fertility treatment with donor sperm or donor eggs. 

If they are unable to offer you a discount on your EMD Serono Fertility medication through one of their savings programs at this time, they may still be able to help you.

Their ongoing partnership with these nonprofit advocacy groups provides potential alternative savings options including loans, grants, and scholarships, as well as support in other areas of family building.

The cost of treatment is stressful, but you may have more options than you think. Head to the FertilitySavings website, check your eligibility for the Fertility LifeLines program and connect with the EMD Serono team to get your questions answered.