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How to save money. Find tips, offers and discounts

Below are listed few smart tips to save money in your fertility journey.

In this page: How to save money

How to save money

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 1.  Natural IVF (See more in Treatments). Uses almost no medications, so medication costs will be very low.

2.   Mini IVF (See more in Medication)

Uses fewer medications, so cost is less than conventional IVF.

3.   IVF Clinical Trials

The research group or a pharmaceutical company running the trial recruits Fertility Clinics to actually perform the trial. The Fertility Clinics then need to recruit participants, so they offer an incentive that can be free IVF treatment or free IVF meds or both.

4.   Fertility Clinic Seminars

Many Fertility Clinics offer free IVF seminars, some offer them on a regular schedule. These are a great way to meet the doctors and learn about IVF. But there’s something else. Many clinics give the chance to win a huge discount on their fertility programs. Some other clinics give away free IVF cycles at their seminars.

This is a superb way to get free IVF because IVF seminars do not have huge attendance, so your probability of winning a free IVF cycle is good. Do not overlook free IVF seminars as a source of free IVF. In fact, seek them out, they are a magnificent opportunity.

5.   IVF Treatment Discount Plans

This may sound too easy to be true, but many IVF clinics offer IVF discount plans to those who cannot afford the full cost. But they don’t publicize this so you need to ask. For example, some offers’ a full discount program to those who qualify based on their annual income.

6.   Free IVF Meds

This is a little known secret. Many fertility clinics have patients with unused meds and these are often donated back to the clinic. So the clinic may have a supply of IVF meds donated by their patients. If you ask they will almost certainly give you these meds for free. But they do not publicize this service and you’ll never know about it unless you ask.

Many fertility clinics may get a high volume of donated meds. But the manufacturers and the FDA are probably not happy about med recycling, even by doctors. So fertility clinics don’t talk about this. It’s a secret. You need to speak up. Ask your fertility specialist if they can help you with donated meds. You could save thousands of dollars!

If you do get donated meds please keep quiet about it. Do not draw attention to your fertility clinic. This is women donating to women.

7.   IVF Military Discounts

Some fertility clinics offer free IVF or discount IVF to Military Personnel and veterans. Some even extend these discounts to first responders and other emergency workers.

8.   Egg Sharing

This is when several IVF patients receive eggs from the same donor. It can reduce treatment costs for IVF patients using donor eggs. (See more in Treatments).

9.   Egg Donation

This is when an IVF patient donates some of her eggs. It can reduce treatment costs for the patient. (See more in Treatments).

10.   IVF Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is growing rapidly on the web and allows people to quickly raise cash for all sorts of purposes. In this case, the cash is raised to fund an IVF cycle or other fertility treatment. Contributions come from family, friends, couples who have experienced the infertility journey and others who just want to help.

11.   Travel Overseas

Many patients travel internationally to get reduced cost IVF and many fertility clinics offer all-inclusive packages that include treatment and accommodation.

12.   Multi-Cycle IVF Refund Programs

Purchasing a multi-cycle IVF package is, of course, more expensive than a single cycle. So how can this save costs? Many women undergo several cycles of IVF in their attempt to get pregnant. If these cycles are purchased individually and then fail the out-of-pocket cost can be huge. With a multi-cycle IVF refund program you pay upfront for several cycles, but if they fail you get a refund. Often the refund could be 100%.

13.   Financial Options in fertility centers

Most fertility centers may have one or several different financial programs to choose from. Some guarantee the delivery of a baby or a full refund, while others offer discounted cycles or self-pay discounts. Couples can also apply for grants or apply for a scholarship.

14.   Nifty Gadgets and Apps

Before you even set foot in a doctor’s office, there are an endless amount of tools at your fingertips. You can:

→chart ovulation through over the counter kits

→monitor your fertility potential through apps like Kindara and Glow

→check sperm count with a pharmacy test

→get a reminder alarm from a thermometer to chart your basal body temperature and

→home pregnancy tests have never been more accurate.

15.   IVF Loans – How They Work

If you can’t get free IVF you may decide to get an IVF loan to pay for your fertility treatment. IVF loans are offered by fertility clinics and medical financing companies. In most cases, you can apply online and get a response very quickly.

Here’s how an IVF loan works

You need to have an IVF diagnosis and an IVF doctor. Then you apply, and during the application, you will be asked to give the name of your doctor. If your IVF loan is approved the money is not paid to you, it’s paid directly to your doctor.

A few tips

Read the loan agreement carefully. The interest rate is important but also check for additional fees. Treat an IVF loan negotiation the same way you would treat a mortgage negotiation. Remember, the company making the loan is not really trying to help you get pregnant, they are trying to make a loan and make a profit. Most of all, shop around.

16.   IVF Tax Credit – US Government

A bill currently before the US Congress provides a tax credit for fertility treatment including IVF. It could potentially help thousands of people afford IVF treatment.

The Bill is called The Family Act (S 881 – HR 1851). It must pass the House and Senate by December 2014 to become a law. RESOLVE (RESOLVE – How To Support The Family Act), a fertility advocate group, has more details on their website and is asking people to call their congressional representative. Many fertility clinics support this legislation.

17.   Mandated Infertility Coverage in the US

Infertility mandates requiring insurance coverage for infertility treatment (.pdf file) are in place for 15 states in the U.S. (Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Montana, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, West Virginia). If your state isn’t on the list, contact your local representative and ask them to introduce legislation to require infertility treatment coverage.