| We all started fertility treatments because we | | | | the risk you take paying into the program ahead of |
| wanted to have a family yet for some the only way | | | | time. If you don't then you get the next cycles for |
| to get conceive is through in vitro fertilization. | | | | free until either a) you exhaust the number of cycles |
| However, the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is | | | | the program has at which point your money is |
| often what keeps a couple from moving along | | | | refunded or b) you get pregnant. |
| toward having a family of their own. For years now | | | | The sharing of the risk is with both you and the RE. |
| doctors have been offering ways to make this | | | | You risk your money, as does the RE. If you had to |
| somewhat easier for us to handle financially. How do | | | | pay for each cycle as-you-go you would break even |
| they manage this? | | | | on the second cycle. After that the RE is losing |
| Some Reproductive Endocrinologists (RE) offer | | | | money on you. |
| shared risk programs, of whole cycle coverage, to | | | | Some shared risk programs offer a refund unless you |
| help make the idea of risking a large sum of money | | | | get pregnant and others offer a refund unless you |
| for something as illusive as a baby an easier challenge. | | | | have a baby. There's an important distinction there |
| Different doctors have different requirements but | | | | and one worth looking closely at the wording of the |
| some of the similarities are: | | | | contract you'll be signing. |
| One sum of money for a finite number of IVF cycles. | | | | Other requirements that RE's may consider include |
| Usually the cost runs around $20,000 for 3-4 IVF | | | | the woman's age and hormone levels. It just depends |
| cycles. This probably does not include fertility | | | | on the program that each doctor offers. If you have |
| medications, but most health insurance programs | | | | the opportunity to look around in your area you can |
| cover some of the medications needed. | | | | compare the programs. If there are only one or two |
| Covers embryo cryo-storage. If you have embryos | | | | fertility specialists then your options will be somewhat |
| that you don't transfer the shared risk program | | | | limited. Either way you'll still be closer to having a child |
| usually covers cryo-storage for later use. | | | | of your own and conquering your infertility through |
| If you get pregnant the first time - Yeah! But that's | | | | IVF. |