Funding for IVF

We have tried four IUI cycles, three were negative and the second resulted in a pregnancy with a miscarriage only two weeks after finding out we were pregnant.  Now my doctor wants to meet to discuss the next step, which we already know will be IVF since I am 40.  We are having such a hard time coming to grips with the fact that we have to fork out over $20,000 for each cycle we do since our insurance does not cover IVF!  We are considering just going straight to adoption - which I totally support and know there are children in need out there.  But that depresses me as I feel I've been basically told I can't conceive.  Anyone else going through this?  Any doctors or others know where we could get funding or something that could help us?  I never thought I would go through life not being pregnant just because of money!

[Helen72]

I am going through my first ivf cycle and we also have to pay out of pocket since our health coverage does not cover ivf.  However, $20,000 is way above national average.  We'll be paying about 10K.  Also, a large part (almost half) of your ivf bill will be prescription drugs that you can buy at 50% of US prices from Canada or UK.  Some clinics also offer packaged deals, like $25K for 2 fresh ivf cycles with all FETs that come out of those fresh cycles, etc.  I know that ivf is difficult to afford but if you shop around you can bring that price tag down.  An alternative is of course to find an employer with better health coverage.
Good luck to you!

[dolphindance]

Thanks so much for you thoughts.  Yes, my fertility clinic offers a program of five cycles for the price of one and money back if not pregnant by fifth try....however, we don't qualify due to our ages being over 40.  I guess I hadn't thought about price checking different clinics since we've been working with this doctor so long.  And maybe I have the price wrong.  We probably would also go with a donor egg to increase our chances (due to my age) and I know that costs more. Unfortunately, my hubby has been with his company over 15 years and getting a new job somewhere is too risky (especially in this economy).  His company has two choices of insurance but they both have no coverage.

But even if it will be only $10,000...adoption is about $20,000 but there is a guarantee you will eventually get a baby that way.  It will be even more devastating to get that "sorry, it's negative" call after paying $10,000....and then what?  We pay that again and again?  I just don't get why it has to cost so much just to have a baby!  It's really not fair!

[Helen72]

That's true.  But with donor eggs success rates are much higher and you will get lots of embryos that you can freeze for FET.  Of course there are no guarantees but I think that it would be a cost-effective choice.

Good luck to you with whatever route you decide to pursue.  I know how difficult it is to pay for ivf and I can certainly relate to your struggles.