IVF coverage questions

KristoKekerooni

hey ya'll. 

So I live in MO. We don't have IF insurance coverage. We have to get IVF (and *TW* are expecting low-yields due to MFI/DNA damage and RPL-probably caused by MFIDNA) and I am assuming probably take several times, and even if not, we always wanted a big family.  (Obviously I hope we get enough PGS-normal embryos the first time, and the first FET works, but I'd rather expect the worst and be surprised)

We are considering two options.

A. Move to TX, AR, or IL to get IVF coverage. 
B. Find a cheap (but good?) clinic in the US and travel for a few months to get it done. 

In Missouri, the best we found for IVF/ICSI/PGS was about 22000 not including meds. Is there any where that is good and is more affordable that I could just travel to specifically for that? Or any insight to moving just to get coverage? 
specifically, we looked at Dr. Sher in LV, anyone have pricing breakdown? They aren't open at all about pricing. 
Or if anyone has a clinic they are going to that is more affordable, I'd love to see pricing breakdowns...

JamieH2000

I know IL has good coverage, but it still depends on the company and if they are headquartered in IL if they have to have coverage or not. I believe the best state, hands down, is massachusetts for coverage. 

As far as cheap clinics, definitely CNY in NY state. I have heard a round of IVF is like $3900, plus meds I think. I have also looked a little into going abroad, and I have heard that Instituto Bernabeu in Spain is pretty good.. I think I have read people can go there, with travel for under $10k.

Hope this helps a little!

KristoKekerooni

You rock @JamieH2000 .That's a great starting point for me.

caseyw8784

Fertility Centers of New England in Massachusetts has a guarantee program where (I think) you get 2 rounds of IVF for $8800 +/- and if those don't work, then the 3rd round is free. I know they explain it more on their website; hope this helps too!

KristoKekerooni

@caseyw8784 Thanks you! I will check it out!

sm05-2

Also, if you're under 42, Massachusetts has a lot of coverage for IF treatments, including infertility, if you're a resident with insurance here. Most of my IVF stuff is covered, except for PGS testing, which does run us ~$3000. Just in case you're looking for another state to try out, though it's far from the other ones you mentioned.

KristoKekerooni

@sm05-2 - I am under 42, but I am not a resident. I live in Missouri, so I have no coverage. I was just planning on choosing a cheap (but successful) clinic and going out for the couple of months, since traveling and paying OOP is actually cheaper than just paying OOP here (So far, the cheapest I have found so far here is 21,000, not including meds or PGS)

[Deleted User]

<blockquote class="Quote">
<div class="QuoteAuthor"><a href="/profile/JamieH2000">JamieH2000</a> said:</div>
<div class="QuoteText">I know IL has good coverage, but it still depends on the company and if they are headquartered in IL if they have to have coverage or not. I believe the best state, hands down, is massachusetts for coverage. 

As far as cheap clinics, definitely <b>CNY in NY state. I have heard a round of IVF is like $3900, plus meds I</b> think. I have also looked a little into going abroad, and I have heard that Instituto Bernabeu in Spain is pretty good.. I think I have read people can go there, with travel for under $10k.

Hope this helps a little!</div>
</blockquote>
Wow!  This is making me think outside the box!!!

KristoKekerooni

@BusinessWife - Wanna go together?

Dragonfly6191

Something you might want to consider is looking for a company to work for that DOES include IVF coverage on their policy. I looked in to this briefly and I know Bank of America was one that had really outstanding coverage. I also read that Starbucks does as well, and you can get coverage through them working only 20 hours a week. There's quite a few lists out there!

If you are looking to travel, I also read that there is a clinic in Barbados with great success rates and much lower costs than most US clinics!

KristoKekerooni

@Dragonfly6191 - I did look briefly, but what I saw was that most places required you work for a year + before you could take advantage. Did you see anything like that?

sm05-2

@KristoKekerooni sorry for misinterpreting! I meant that if you were looking for another state to move to, you could consider Massachusetts, although it's far from where you are now. Looks like others are giving you some good options to think about!

KristoKekerooni

@sm05-2 - Nah, you're good. I wasn't clear. If we travel, it'll probably only be for a couple months. And if we move, we don't want to move anywhere except Arkansas, Texas, or IL. All of our family is west coast and Midwest, so we don't want to be too far. 

Dragonfly6191

@KristoKekerooni I'd be really surprised if that's the case, unless it's a company where you aren't eligible for insurance for a year- which I've never heard of. Typically it's like 60-90 days before you are eligible. At that point, if it's in your medical benefits you should be eligible from the date coverage begins. Otherwise it would be discriminatory to your condition. 

I was specifically looking at Starbucks because of the 20 hour a week requirement (so I could keep my REAL job too), and it was 90 days. The only thing I couldn't verify with Starbucks was the exact extent of their benefits. 

By the way, due to a miracle, I ended up being covered under an IL policy, so I'm entitled to all of their state mandated benefits. I spent a lot of time on the phone with their insurance commission and I've got to tell you, it's really good coverage. If you have any IL coverage specific questions, let me know!

gwinnyblack

Good luck with any decision of yours! xx
PS but is there any cheap clinic in the US though..? I could not find any... 

KristoKekerooni

@Dragonfly6191 - Yeah, that's what I initially believed as well. But like, Walgreens has coverage, but you have to be an employee for a minimum of five years. I think it's just the specific plan you aren't allowed to choose unless you have worked there for a bit. (PS, I looked into Starbucks. They cover IF diagnosis, IUIs, meds, but not IVF+)

@gwinnyblack - Eh. Not compared to other countries, but when you compare state-to-state and clinic-to-clinic, there is a dramatic difference. Some places I have found have the exact same procedures, with very little variance in protocol for drastically different prices- 8K, 12K, and 24K... That's huge. 

[Deleted User]

@KristoKekerooni. I'm definitely thinking about it! Lol. How freaking fun to be OOS clinic buddies???? Lol. But so far I love my doctor... idk

Eta @Dragonfly6191 what can you tell me about BoA?  How do I find out more about the plans/coverage before applying?

KristoKekerooni

@BusinessWife - It would be SO fun! Like, what can be more fun that poking ourselves with needles, etc?!?

[Deleted User]

@Kristokekerooni BUT <i>TOGETHER</i>!!!! :D ❤❤❤

Dragonfly6191

@BusinessWife it's been a long time since I looked into the details, but I remember they had one of the best coverages available from everything I read!

KristoKekerooni

@BusinessWife - I LOLed at that for sure. I'll poke your butt if you poke mine!

Momifbysea

I'm not far from you in Iowa, and IVF is $14,555 estimated. Pre-testing is $1,974. Meds are separate but some people donate them at my clinic so might be an option? Not cheap but less than MO!

[Deleted User]

<blockquote class="Quote">
<div class="QuoteAuthor"><a href="/profile/KristoKekerooni">KristoKekerooni</a> said:</div>
<div class="QuoteText">@BusinessWife - I LOLed at that for sure. I'll poke your butt if you poke mine!
</div>
</blockquote>
Hey, what are friends for??? ❤❤❤ :D 

AngryBull

Hey ladies - about the questions on the benefits available at other companies like Bank of America and Starbucks, have you read the info on FertilityIQ about the best companies to work for as a fertility patient? It has some pretty specific info on the extent of the benefits offered. For example, it says Starbucks' insurance has a $20,000 lifetime max, BoA has no cap, provides info on specific exclusions and clinic requirements, etc.  Here is a link:

https://www.fertilityiq.com/cost/2016-best-companies-to-work-for-as-a-fertility-patient-corporate-fertility-benefits-rankings

Hope it's helpful!  And good luck - I am 100% OOP and it stinks.  Any amount of coverage can be a tremendous help.

KristoKekerooni

@AngryBull
 BLESS YOU!

gwinnyblack

@KristoKekerooni
Well, yeah, I get that.But it looks insane compared to that 5k for an ivf contract you're paying in the clinic of my choice. But I guess you're right that if we leave it out of the equation than the US has pretty cheap options... 

baseballhoney

Ok, this may be a dumb question. I live in Minnesota and we had an appointment with my doctor today. He is referring us on for IVF. If I were to travel to somewhere like NY for it, how long would we have to be there? Has anyone done it before? I'm just starting to research. 

LadyMillil

baseballhoney said:

Ok, this may be a dumb question. I live in Minnesota and we had an appointment with my doctor today. He is referring us on for IVF. If I were to travel to somewhere like NY for it, how long would we have to be there? Has anyone done it before? I'm just starting to research. 

I know someone that travelled out of province for IVF. She had to be there for 2-3 weeks for the stims, ER and transfer. Her H really just needed to be there to provide his sample on ER day. She had to do 3 FETs and flew back for 2 days for those. She has to pay OOP for appointments and distance monitoring at the local clinic because she wasn't a patient there, so it didn't end up being any cheaper.

missydeer

We are looking at 22k with pgs and meds.