If you were OOP, how much were your meds for IVF?

genmalone · January 2012

This whole process sucks. Every time I turn around the total keeps going up for the whole procedure. I just got the total for my meds and I am in shock! They told us to budget anywhere from $2-5K but average is $3K. My total is over $5K. How can that be? I respond to such a low dose I am just at a loss right now. I overstimmed a few months ago on 75 IU of Gonal-F. Seriously?

This isn't a deal breaker at all but good grief! I thought we'd be closer to $2K but maybe $3K. And I just found out last week I have to have a hysteroscopy. Who knows how much that will cost.

I hear people say all the time that IVF is $12-$15K. We are way past that. Crying

ukcats27 · January 2012

What are your list of meds?

Our total was $2300 and then I needed more Follistim which was around $250.

katieworek · January 2012

I'm not OOP but my first IVF cycle, the pharmacy screwed up my order and didn't show insurance covering my meds. The total was somewhere around $3500.

That sounds pretty high. Is there anyway to go over the prescriptions with the pharmacy and make sure they have the correct quantities and meds? Also, maybe ask about different brands/generic of some of the drugs.

I hope that this is all a mistake and you don't have to pay that much for your meds. ((hugs))

crene84 · January 2012

My research showed Success Pharmacy being the cheapest for people who are 100% OOP. They do free overnight shipping too except for Sunday I believe. My meds came to $3,200 with Follistim and with Bravelle, it would be a little cheaper.

SUCCESS PHARMACY - 1-800-504-9441

10 vials of Menopur - $749 ($74.90/vial)
4 syringes of Ganirelix - $435.60 ($108.90/syringe)
2 prefilled of Ovidrel - $189.90 ($94.90/syringe)
Follistim - $1,875 ($750 for 900 IU, $500 for 600 IU, $250 for 300 IU)
Bravelle - $1,707($56.90/vial)
Gonal F - they don't carry this

Total with Follistim - $3,249.50
Total with Bravelle - $3,081.50

limpetfan · January 2012

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

hootie123 · January 2012

The only really expensive meds are the FSH or FSH/LH meds. My suggestion is to look for donations or look around online in your local area for someone selling un-used left-over meds for cheap (I will admit to having done this myself).

What type of progesterone do they have you taking? PIO is the cheapest option.

The only way to save any money on IVF is through the meds - all the doctors fees are set.

HTH!

tgreenf · January 2012

We paid about $2,800 for the meds sitting in my refrigerator. :-) But the clinic had a bunch of samples of the progesterone suppositories so they gave me some of those. Had we had to pay for those it would have been about $3,500 I believe. Over $5k does seem quite high. I'm sorry hon, this whole darn thing just sucks!!

genmalone · January 2012

I guess I should re-phrase. I have almost $3K worth of meds already. Some through donation, some left over from previous cycles, and some were samples that my previous RE gave me (that I had already bought or didn't use). Yes, I have been hoarding meds for months now! Stick out tongue I always assumed if I had leftovers I would donate them.

Anyway, my total from the pharmacy is $3100. That would make my total right at $6K. I just added everything up. Something seems off. I requested a copy of an itemized bill and she said I would have it by the end of the day.

Thanks for the input. I feel more confident that something is wrong with my bill after reading everyone else's totals.

steff13914 · January 2012

Did you use Freedom Fertility Pharmacy? They accept a few discounts my Dr's office found for Crinone and Gonal-F, and they give you $100 off your entire order if you do a price quote on their web site.

I'm on the bcp/Lupron overlap protocol, and my total was $2427.12. I hope you can get your costs down!

genmalone · January 2012

ukcats27:

What are your list of meds?

Our total was $2300 and then I needed more Follistim which was around $250.

I still don't have my meds list. Should get it soon. I would love to compare.

farmerlynda · January 2012

My meds were $2,600, but I don't know who says that OOP IVF is $12-$15K! At least it isn't in the Bay Area.

Between meds and the cycle cost, we paid over $20K (but we did pay a couple thousand more to participate in a refund program, and since we have no frosties, I am very glad we did).

It sucks. I'm sorry you're OOP too

genmalone · January 2012

limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.

genmalone · January 2012

hootie123:

The only really expensive meds are the FSH or FSH/LH meds. My suggestion is to look for donations or look around online in your local area for someone selling un-used left-over meds for cheap (I will admit to having done this myself).

What type of progesterone do they have you taking? PIO is the cheapest option.

The only way to save any money on IVF is through the meds - all the doctors fees are set.

HTH!

I currently have 1950 IU of Gonal-F (part donation and remainder were samples from my previous RE). I also already have Endometrin and Ganirelix left over from my last few cycles. I just can't imagine what else they ordered for me that is so expensive.

farmerlynda · January 2012

genmalone:
limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.

I just looked up my breakdown... I guess the $20K was me mentally including all the pre-cycle tests that had to happen.

Here's my IVF cycle cost:

cycle fee (refund plan, 80% back if it doesn't work) -- $12,600

anesthesia -- $500

facility fee -- $1000

ICSI -- $2,100

extended culture -- $600

total -- $16,600 (without meds)

Cryo would have been included but of course we had none to freeze.

genmalone · January 2012

steff13914:

Did you use Freedom Fertility Pharmacy? They accept a few discounts my Dr's office found for Crinone and Gonal-F, and they give you $100 off your entire order if you do a price quote on their web site.

I'm on the bcp/Lupron overlap protocol, and my total was $2427.12. I hope you can get your costs down!

My RE uses Metro Drug for all meds. I'm sure if I throw a fit they'll let me order from somewhere else. I asked yesterday what everyone's opinion is of Metro and I got really good feedback here and on IF. I do find it odd that I'm having such a hard time getting the breakdown of my meds. I asked for it yesterday too. I haven't paid and won't until I'm sure they didn't make a mistake.

limpetfan · January 2012

genmalone:
limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.

Yours is a good deal, too! I didn't really realize what a deal my doctor offers until I started to see what people on here pay. I live in a high cost of living area, so I'm still shocked at how good that package was!

genmalone · January 2012

limpetfan:
genmalone:
limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.

Yours is a good deal, too! I didn't really realize what a deal my doctor offers until I started to see what people on here pay. I live in a high cost of living area, so I'm still shocked at how good that package was!

My clinic is one of the cheaper ones in Houston but still has really good stats. At my first clinic it would of been $14-15K (not including meds).

Jezebell26 · January 2012

Im not OOP so i apologize but I was wondering maybe its how they ordered the meds? My RE orders enough for a 60 day supply because you never know how much you will need in one cycle. I was using a little less than half of that per cycle. I honestly do not know how you OOP girls do it and my heart breaks for you all not having IF coverage. *hugs*

genmalone · January 2012

Jezebell26:
Im not OOP so i apologize but I was wondering maybe its how they ordered the meds? My RE orders enough for a 60 day supply because you never know how much you will need in one cycle. I was using a little less than half of that per cycle. I honestly do not know how you OOP girls do it and my heart breaks for you all not having IF coverage. *hugs*

I know they usually over order for people that have coverage but my previous experience is that they are really conservative with us OOP ladies. That is the only thing that makes sense though.

Oh, and don't apologize for having coverage! My DH and I both have considered changing jobs/careers to have the coverage but decided it's not worth it.

hootie123 · January 2012

genmalone:
limpetfan:
genmalone:
limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.

Yours is a good deal, too! I didn't really realize what a deal my doctor offers until I started to see what people on here pay. I live in a high cost of living area, so I'm still shocked at how good that package was!

My clinic is one of the cheaper ones in Houston but still has really good stats. At my first clinic it would of been $14-15K (not including meds).

RE: costs for the actual IVF - mine was really pretty cheap compared to others. But its not cheap when it doesn't work. Had it worked it would have felt like a 'deal' - not so much anymore.

mdluv21 · January 2012

I spent around $2k but also had some donated, I think I would have been closer to the $3k mark.

My IVF was over $20k.

maggie2324 · January 2012

farmerlynda:
genmalone:
limpetfan:

When I paid OOP, the meds were bundled into the clinic's package price, so I'm not sure how much of the total they actually were... but the total on the package was $12K.

When my insurance paid, the total amount billed by the pharmacy was in excess of $6K. I think the insurance company paid out maybe $4.5K of that. I was floored when I saw how much some of the drugs actually cost. It's insane.

ETA: I should also mention, the cycle my insurance paid for was an antagonist cycle and my nurse ordered 2 different triggers, so there were more meds being ordered than for a long Lupron cycle.

$12K including meds! My IVF alone is $11850. That includes ICSI, AH (which I don't need), cryo and 1 year of storage and I thought that was a good deal.
I just looked up my breakdown... I guess the $20K was me mentally including all the pre-cycle tests that had to happen.
Here's my IVF cycle cost:
cycle fee (refund plan, 80% back if it doesn't work) -- $12,600
anesthesia -- $500
facility fee -- $1000
ICSI -- $2,100
extended culture -- $600
total -- $16,600 (without meds)
Cryo would have been included but of course we had none to freeze.

Geez, I guess I must live in an inexpensive area. I am very thankful though. I could see 12k including meds if I didn't need ICSI. They don't have any special multiple cycle deals or refund programs.

Cycle fee - $7310 includes everything except those listed below

ICSI - $1500

Assisted hatching - $500

Freezing for 1 year - $675

Meds - $3-6k estimate

Pre-cycle testing, PGD, etc

We're applying for Compassionate Care (as suggested by my RE), so hopefully we'll have our meds covered.

With the cycle fee, ICSI, and freezing, we're planning on spending $9500. Hopefully we won't need a SHG or any other expensive additions (or ins covers them).

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