Affording IVF / IUI Costs: Fertility Financing & Insurance

Finance FAQs

• What is included in the cost for an IVF package?

  An IVF package is created for each patient based on their personal family-building goals and the protocol they have agreed upon under the guidance of one of our physicians. Each package, therefore, is individualized.

  At RMA of New York, IVF packages are typically batched into two categories: ‘Fresh Cycle’ and ‘Freeze All Cycle’. In a ‘Fresh Cycle’ patients undergo IVF with the intention of transferring fresh embryos that have not been frozen. This type of package includes monitoring – office visits, ultrasounds, and blood work – egg retrieval, conventional fertilization, and embryo transfer. ‘Freeze All Cycle’ patients undergo an egg retrieval and freeze their eggs or embryos, with the intention of transferring them later. This package includes monitoring – office visits, ultrasounds and bloodwork – egg retrieval, ICSI, cryopreservation, and embryo transfer at a later time.

  IVF packages at RMA of New York do NOT include medications, anesthesia, or PGT, preimplantation genetic testing, of embryos. Cryopreservation, or freezing, of specimens, is included in a ‘Freeze All Cycle’ but not in a ‘Fresh Cycle’.

  A ‘Freeze All Cycle’ excludes the transfer. But there is a combined package of the ‘Freeze All Cycle’ plus a transfer to save some money. There is no time frame as to when the transfer has to happen if you have already paid for it.

• How can I make IVF costs affordable?

  For patients who are in need of financial assistance to fund their fertility journey, RMA of New York works with several providers:

  • Treatment Bundle Programs: These programs offer a reduced fee for a particular treatment plan than if a patient were to pay RMA of New York directly. ARC Fertility provides IVF loan and fertility financing for treatments and medications. WINFertility offers bundle packages that may include medical treatments and medications. Finally, Compassionate Care offers eligible self-pay patients discounts on many fertility medications.
  • Loan Providers: Programs such as Capex MD, Egg Fund, and Future Family assist patient finance their fertility journeys by providing loans at, typically, lower interest rates. Patients must apply to these programs as the financial support provided is customized to their particular treatment plans.
  • Grants: RMA of New York is selected by the New York State Department of Health to participate in the Infertility Demonstration Program. Through this grant, qualified individuals whose insurance coverage is exhausted or inadequate can obtain financial assistance to cover the costs of an IVF cycle. Grant recipients must meet medical and financial criteria, including having exhausted appropriate lower level infertility services, are residents of New York State, and meet the age and health guidelines established by the State.

• What is needed to qualify for fertility financing?

  Typically, patients must meet a minimum credit score. However, this varies according to each fertility financing program.

• Does insurance covers IUI?

  IUI coverage depends on a patient’s particular insurance plan provided by their employer. For example, in New York State, large employers typically mandate IVF coverage but small employers may only cover diagnostics. There are, however, employers who insurance package do not offer any fertility-related coverage. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

  Prior to an initial consultation at RMA of New York, our financial coordinators can call a patient’s insurance provider using a valid Member ID to confirm any fertility benefits.

• What are the best fertility insurance coverage providers?

  Fertility benefits are determined by the employer. Designating insurance providers as ‘the best’, is, therefore, unreasonable because it fertility benefits can vary between businesses with the same insurance provider. For example, a small business may use Aetna but provide no fertility benefit to its patients whereas a larger company that also uses Aetna may elect to provide some fertility benefits to its employees.

  RMA of New York is in network with the following insurance carriers: Aetna, Cigna, New York Hotel Trades, Oxford, United Healthcare, UMR, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GHI, and Progyny. Again, the financial coordinators work with patients ahead of their consultation to determine if their insurance provider includes fertility benefits.

• Is there a military discount for fertility services?

  RMA of New York offers 25% discount on services to military personnel and veterans. This discount is applied only to those treatments or procedures that RMA of New York bills, such as a ‘Fresh Cycle’ or ‘Freeze All Cycle’. This discount cannot be applied to outside costs, including anesthesia, medications, or PGT.