The clinic we will be using for IVF has an Refund Plan for both OE and DE IVF. It is one of the reasons we decided to switch from our previous smaller and closer fertility center to this larger and more reputable center (at least that is what we are telling our previous RE--well, you don't have a shared risk program...). A typical OE IVF cycle at this clinic costs somewhere around $14, 000 (that includes about everything needed for one cycle). The refund plan for OE IVF requires a deposit of $15, 000 prior to the start of the cycle which includes everything except pre-cycle testing, medications and anesthesia. We will end up paying around $20,000 for our first (and hopefully only) cycle.
The refund plan includes 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles. If IVF #1 fails, then we do an FET (if we have any frozen embryos, that is), then a fresh, then a frozen and so on. If all attempts fail to result in a live birth with my own eggs then we can get 70% of the $15, 000 deposit back (which is enough to cover DE IVF in the Czech Republic. Yes, I am already that far ahead).
If you are a math person, you will be better than me at computing the cost savings of subsequent cycles with the refund plan but I will attempt to break it down. Two cycles without the refund plan would add up to around $28,000, whereas two cycles with the refund plan would add up to around $24,000-$27,000. So the actual cost of this plan is set around the cost of two fresh IVF cycles and the real savings would occur with FET and a third fresh cycle. Three cycles with the refund plan would add up to around $30,000 compared to $42,000 of paying for three individual IVFs. Further, if we do get a baby on the first round, then we have only paid around $6,000 more than what we would have paid for an individual IVF cycle (only! I know this is actually a lot of money, but we will just think of it as an insurance package, a cost we will be happy with if this actually works on the first try and we are DONE).
What we like about the refund plan is that our next step decisions will already be made for us if a cycle fails. We won't have the financial stress of coming up with (as) large sums of money after a cycle fails. We won't wonder things like, should we try this again? or can I do this again, should we really try a third time? It will all be set. And of course, we can request a refund at any time or get a refund at the (devastating) end to use for further treatment (or a down payment on a house, which is originally what all this money was saved for, but houses are for fertiles anyway, right?).
This however, is all contingent on qualifying for the IVF refund plan. This is what has made me so nervous about the clomid challenge test. Not that I won't stimulate well, but that we won't qualify. Here is the center's list of basic criteria for approval into the Refund Plan (for OE IVF):
1. patient must be under age 37 and cycles must be completed before the patient's 38th birthday.
2. FSH and E2 levels must be within "acceptable range" and tested at ORM.
3. Normal fallopian tubes and uterine cavity
4. Height/weight proportional
5. No previous IVF or 2 consecutive pregnancy losses.
6. acceptable ejaculated sperm is available
7. general good health
8. no insurance coverage for infertility
Other considerations specific to F and I will be evaluated as well in the decision to approve us or not. So far, we meet all basic criteria with the possible exception of #2--to be determined by the clomid challenge test. They don't say what their "acceptable range" for FSH and E2 is, but Dr. H did express concern with my previous levels. So please wish us luck in the next month or so as we complete the testing and paperwork to qualify!
P.S. This is my 100th post.
8 comments:
Good Luck! I hope everything goes well for you!
I always wondered about the refund plans...does it mean successful pregnancy, take-home baby, or is success defined by simply getting a positive beta?
The refund plan sounds good. I was not eligible for my clinic because my tubes were jacked. I mean, WTH? I need IVF if my tubes are jacked, right?
Oh, and "houses are for fertiles" should be the tag line on a t-shirt. Funny, funny comment that you made :)
Wow, complicated business. Wishing you all the best for filling the criteria
Happy 100 post!! And you are in my thoughts for meeting the criteria of a refund plan. When will you know for sure? Keeping everything supercrossed! Fran
Happy 100 posts!!! I hope you get in the plan - sounds like a great one!
Yay for 100 posts!
We went through a lot of the same discussions about the refund plan. In the end we figured out that, for us, we could afford to fail on the refund plan up to three times but we could only afford to be successful if it worked the first time. So, we're going with a different clinic that doesn't offer a plan but is substantially less expensive to begin with with comparable success rates.
It sucks that these decisions have to be made with money sometimes.
@ My Vegas, the plan at our clinic includes a refund if IVF does not result in a live birth. I've heard differences in some plans.
I also found the criteria for normal tubes odd since IVF bypasses the tubes. It sounds like to qualify your diagnosis must be completely unexplained.
@ Fran, We won't know if we qualify until after the mock transfer/SIS. That seems to be cutting things a bit close to me, but that is just how they time the mock transfer--with the test that evaluates the uterine cavity.
Good luck with everything, keep us posted. I think anything 10 or below on the CCT is what they are looking for but I could be wrong. What if you accidentally forgot to take one of the clomid pills?! Just saying ;)
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