Learn about affordable IVF clinics in the US and what makes IVF expensive.
April 4, 2024
The dream of becoming a parent is a cherished one for many, but the cost of fertility treatments, particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF), can be a significant barrier for those facing infertility. However, there is good news: affordable IVF options are available in the USA. In this blog, we'll explore how to find the cheapest IVF treatments and low-cost fertility clinics near you.
Before we dive into finding affordable IVF options, it's important to understand why IVF can be expensive. IVF involves a series of complex procedures, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization in the laboratory, embryo culture, and embryo transfer. These steps require specialized equipment, skilled medical professionals, and a controlled clinical environment, all of which contribute to the overall cost. The location of the clinic, as well as its reputation, can lead the price up as well. The good news is that if you are ready to travel, you can find more affordable options in a different city or state. Check prices of fertility clinics near you and across the US.
We gathered a list of the lowest-cost fertility centers in different states and one of the cheapest in the country.
CNY Fertility in Colorado and in New York has the lowest pricing in the whole country, with one cycle of IVF being around $5,000, and that includes ICSI and anesthesia. The clinic is very busy, and the wait can be longer because of that. CNY also offers remote monitoring for patients traveling out of state.
West Coast Fertility Center in Orange County and Los Angeles Reproductive Center (LARC) in San Fernando Valley have the lowest pricing, with one cycle of IVF being around $5,000-$7,000. The clinics also have bundle deals for multiple cycles of IVF. Learn how you can start your treatment at your local OBGYN, and finish at one of the affordable fertility clinics in California.
Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Jacksonville has a price of a single IVF cycle of $7,200. It is important to take into account that anesthesia, PGT, and assisted hatching are not included in this price, but it is still one of the most affordable options in the states and in the country.
Arizona has 2 fertility centers with the lowest in the country pricing for IVF: New Direction Fertility and Southwest Fertility Center. Their pricing is around $6,500 and $6,700 per cycle. The pricing doesn't include anesthesia, that is usually $500-600. These clinics are great options as they also have excellent reviews and success rates.
Hawaii has state-mandated coverage for IVF, and if you live there, your insurance may cover the procedure. If you are paying out of pocket, there are low-cost fertility clinics in the state: Tripler Army Medical Center IVF Institute had an IVF cycle price of $4,397 based on their last available pricing.
Part of IVF - monitoring of hormonal stimulation (bloodwork and ultrasound) - can be done at your local OBGYN office. If your OBGYN is able to bill the right CPT codes for this, even Medicaid can cover this. This will help save $2,000 - $3,000 per cycle.
The price depends on your prescriptions. Your medical protocol will be adjusted on the go depending on how the medication is affecting your body.
HACKS TO SAVE $$:
It's important to mention that many states have mandatory infertility coverage laws. Most of the time, they exempt the self-insured employers. Nevertheless, in states like Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Arkansas, general insurance covers IVF the most.
Infertility is defined as the inability of an individual to conceive or achieve conception within a specified period. For those aged 35 or younger, the timeframe is set at 1 year, while for those over 35, it is 6 months. If a person successfully conceives but cannot carry the pregnancy to live birth, the time spent attempting to conceive prior to that successful pregnancy is included in the calculation.
Coverage:
Insurers offering pregnancy-related benefits in Massachusetts are obligated to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. This includes various procedures such as artificial insemination, IVF, GIFT, sperm, egg, and/or inseminated egg procurement and processing, as well as banking of sperm or inseminated eggs (excluding costs covered by the donor's insurer). Other covered treatments encompass ICSI, ZIFT, assisted hatching, and cryopreservation of eggs.
It's noteworthy that experiencing a miscarriage does not reset the 1-year or 6-month qualification clock for infertility.
Insurers are prohibited from imposing exclusions, limitations, or restrictions on infertility drug coverage that differ from those applied to other prescription drugs. Moreover, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, benefit maximums, waiting periods, or any other restrictions on infertility benefits cannot be different from those imposed on non-infertility-related services. The law does not impose a limit on the number of treatment cycles and lacks a lifetime cap on expenses. Insurers may establish limits based on clinical guidelines and patients' medical histories.
Exceptions:
The law does not mandate coverage for experimental infertility procedures, surrogacy, or the reversal of voluntary sterilization. However, insurers have the option to cover these procedures if they choose to do so.
In Hawaii, both individual and group insurers are mandated to provide coverage for one cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) under specific conditions. This coverage is applicable if a patient or the patient's spouse has a history of infertility lasting at least 5 years or if infertility is associated with conditions such as endometriosis, DES exposure, blocked or surgically removed fallopian tubes, or abnormal male factors contributing to infertility. Notably, the patient's eggs must be fertilized with her spouse's sperm.
Coverage:
The provided coverage includes one cycle of IVF, and it is extended to the same extent as maternity-related benefits. This ensures that patients have access to fertility treatments comparable to other pregnancy-related services covered by insurance.
To qualify for this coverage, the patient must have been unsuccessful in achieving a successful pregnancy through other infertility treatments covered by insurance.
The IVF procedures must be performed at medical facilities that adhere to guidelines set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). This emphasizes the importance of receiving IVF treatments at facilities that meet recognized medical standards.
In Arkansas, coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is outlined with specific eligibility criteria and provisions:
Eligibility:
- The patient and her spouse must have a minimum of a 2-year history of unexplained infertility or infertility associated with specified conditions: endometriosis, DES exposure, blocked or surgically removed fallopian tubes (not resulting from voluntary sterilization), or abnormal male factors contributing to infertility.
- The patient must be either the policyholder or the spouse of the policyholder and must be covered by the insurance policy.
- The patient's eggs must be fertilized with her spouse's sperm.
- Unsuccessful attempts at achieving pregnancy through less costly infertility treatments covered by insurance are a prerequisite for coverage.
Coverage:
- All individual and group insurance policies providing maternity benefits are mandated to cover IVF, with HMOs being exempt from this law.
- There is a lifetime maximum coverage limit of $15,000 for IVF procedures.
- IVF procedures must be conducted at a facility licensed or certified by the state and must adhere to guidelines set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
- Preexisting condition limitations are set at 12 months.
- Cryopreservation is included as an IVF procedure.
- Benefits for IVF are subject to the same deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket limitations as under maternity benefit provisions.
- Insurers have the option to include other infertility procedures or treatments under the IVF benefit at their discretion.
When choosing a fertility center besides pricing, it is recommended to compare success rates and reviews for the fertility center. Because success rates can be affected by the patient population and cheaper clinics tend to accept all the patients, even if the chances of success are low, it will be helpful to ask your clinic to comment on their success rates. If you want to explore other fertility centers near you, check our database.
By conducting thorough research, comparing prices, and exploring various financial assistance options, you can find the cheapest IVF treatment that suits your needs. Remember that while cost is an important factor, it's equally essential to choose a reputable fertility clinic with experienced professionals who can provide you with the best chance of success on your journey to parenthood. If you need help choosing fertility centers or saving money on your treatment, our fertility advisors would be happy to help.
Talk to one of our fertility advisors about pros and cons of each clinic, process, preparation. We will share cost & results optimization tips to save $3,000 on average.
We'll go over the process, preparation, and cost and results optimization tips to save $3,000 on average.
