| Buried in the 2,000 page health care reform bill is tax | | | | However the IRS limits these deductions to the |
| language that will raise the cost of infertility | | | | amount over 7.5% of adjusted gross income. |
| treatments beginning in 2013. Many infertility | | | | Adjusted gross income is the total income earned by |
| treatments are self paid: most insurance plans provide | | | | a couple. Take for example a couple undergoing one |
| no coverage, so couples trying to conceive must pay | | | | IVF cycle. The average cost of IVF is about $12,000. |
| out of pocket. These expenses are tax deductible, | | | | If the couple has a $100,000 adjusted gross income |
| but the bill raises the threshold for itemized | | | | (AGI), their threshold is $7,500. This means the |
| deductions beginning in 2013, thereby raising costs. | | | | couple can deduct $4,500 of their IVF costs, saving |
| Most insurance plans provide little or no coverage for | | | | about $1,125 in taxes if they are in the 25% tax |
| infertility treatments. Only fourteen states mandate | | | | bracket. |
| some level of infertility coverage, and these laws | | | | Beginning in 2013 the Health Care Reform Bill |
| contain many exceptions and loopholes. Couples | | | | stipulates that the threshold for itemized deduction |
| trying to conceive must often pay expenses for | | | | for un-reimbursed medical expenses will be increased |
| infertility treatment out of pocket. | | | | from7.5% of adjusted gross income to 10.0%. In the |
| Couples do get some relief for un-reimbursed medical | | | | example above this lowers the eligible deduction to |
| expenses through the tax code. Most of the | | | | $2,000 and the tax savings to $500. |
| non-covered infertility treatment options are | | | | More than ever before, couples trying to conceive |
| considered tax deductible. This list includes diagnostic | | | | need to understand infertility insurance mandates, the |
| testing, fertility drugs, IVF and other assisted | | | | tax code, and how to leverage supplemental |
| reproductive techniques, as well as travel costs. | | | | insurance. |