IVFers please chime in!

Jodee37

SO we are jumping in, full throttle. Now begins the confusion about all the different plans...

REs office is one where you can buy 1 fresh cycle for $7000 (which includes all u/s from beginning of cycle through transfer, all lab tests during cycle as well as 2 betas, ER, IVF lab services to fertilize egg (ICSI addt'l fee) as ET.) Package does not include mock trial ($100), all meds ($3000-$6000), anesthesiologist ($400), ICSI ($1500) and 3 u/s during 1st tri ($270 each). PGD is addt'l too ($2-3000)

Or you can buy 2 cycles for $10K. Of note we want to do PGD so we will be doing a FET, not fresh. On the fee list a FET is $3500. not sure if that is addt'l to the $7000, will have to ask. and if a cycle is dropped, services will be itemized for those that were performed. And if i buy the 2 cycle pkg and get KTFU on the 1st the fee is NOT prorated.

So here's my q.... did you guys buy 1 cycle at a time? package? what was your particular thinking on why one way was better than the other? oh and do the fees above seem realistic or should i go elsewhere...

thanks so much. i know it's weird to talk about money but i am so lost in all this, i don't want to make poor decisions and you all have BTDT.

Momarazzi007

So, the clinic I am at had a delivery promise package, $18k (yep) for up to 6 fresh cycles and all frozen (including $3,500 frozen embryo set up fees) cycles should I produce extra embryos in fresh cycle. So unlimited frozen cycles included, ultrasounds through six week check up, ERs, ETs. Not included was ICSI fee ($1,500 one time fee so if we burn through a fresh cycles we don't have to pay again, meds- almost 5k, and anesthesia each fresh, so far $400 for first one). But, we had a failed fresh, which would have been about 8k, then we were lucky to have embryos to freeze, so $3,500, then a FET cycle, almost 6K, so what we paid for delivery promise we would have paid already for seperate cycles so glad we burst the bank for the promise (and God forbid we miscarriage, or baby does not make it home for whatever reason, we can keep trying no matter what, so basically insurance). PGD would not be included in this either. Fees you got are right on par for what I know and cheaper from other clinics we went to.
I gotta say I am glad you are freezing them all because a FET is so much easier in your body than a fresh!!! Personally I would have done them seperately bc you hope it takes the first time, but from my experiences before TTC dd I knew the chances were good but not guaranteed. I basically cleared out my 401k so I lost one promise of the future I needed to know I was making the severest decision I could. W the delivery promise we got, I feel we got it. Even if a baby never comes of it (puking and dying at the thought) we get the money back and can try again or move on knowing we did everything we could. I guess those were my reasons and details. I don't know it this program is available at all clinics, but I think you have to meet strict guidelines.

Jodee37

thanks so much for your input @momarazzi007 my RE office looks like they only offer a single or double cycle package. LAME! i just set up a re-consult for 6/16 so i can really get into the nitty gritty about options and prices. i wonder if i should go elsewhere... they don't refund anything if there is no success.

Momarazzi007

No harm in second opinions! My clinic was not the first one I went to, one before it was a few thousand more expensive even though the dr was more warm and fuzzy, went with price (and same stats in getting ku'd) and a little more clinical bedside manner. My nurses give me warm fuzzies though. Lmbo

Mommalawyer

DH and I have looked into IVF recently, we are just now looking at it, first steps. So I don't know all too much. But from what I've seen, it makes sense to just get a package that is more than one transfer. Kinda gives you a back-up or so to speak. I've also seen what @Momarazzi007‌ talked about, where they guarantee. That makes sense too. Good luck in finding the right place for you and DH!

MrsAtch

@Jodee37, I know you, and you're panicking at the thought of having to find ANOTHER RE. I don't know how it works in CA but I wonder if you can talk to your RE at your appointment about not having any guarantees and seeing if they know a clinic that does guarantee, or seeing if they would consider offering a guarantee? It can't hurt to ask. Obviously my situation is different but if I had to make the choice I would really need to sit down financially and figure out the cost/benefit ratio. If I wasn't so desperate to have another baby I would probably just buy one cycle, but since there isn't a guarantee I might double up. I'm not sure my heart could handle a failed IVF cycle and then having to pay for another single cycle OOP. What does M think?