I am incredible lucky to live in a state with mandated IF coverage, and I try to remind myself this everyday. With that said, if we had to be OOP we would probably not be able to be here as neither DH nor I have well paying jobs.
I was just looking over my insurance account online to see if they had posted a decision yet on my next requested IUI cycle. I came across the info for my 1st cycle. I know there is a lot of discussion on the boards about the cost of procedures in different locations of the country and think of IUI (the washing and procedure) as about a $300 procedure based on what I have read. I was disgusted to see that the negotiated rate between my insurance and my clinic is $35.35!!! Yes, you read that correctly thirty five dollars and thirty five cents!!! I can't help but believe that if they can do it for that cost for insurance that they could do it for OOP.
Re: Actual cost of IUI with insurance...
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TTC #1 since March 2011
1 medicated TI cycle & 4 clomid IUIs = all BFNs
DS1 born 2/14
TTC #2 since December 2014
May 2015 unassisted BFP ended in m/c at 7wks
April 2016 FET #1 = BFN
June 2016 FET #2 = c/p
August 2016 FET #3 = BFP!
DS2 born 4/17
TTC #1 since August 2011
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September 2012: Start IF testing
DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA
October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos
November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues. Converted to freeze all due to lining issues. 2 blasts frozen on day 6!
January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues
April 2015: FET #2.1
PAIF/SAIF Welcome!
IUI#4 1/23/13 on 75iu x9 Follistim = BFP then chem preg m/c (Feb 2013)
IUI#5 BFN (April 2013)
S/PAIFW , S/PALW
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IVF Oct/Nov 2012
Beta #1 = 77, Beta #2 = 190, Beta #3 = 1044
Cautiously optimistic.
This exactly. We are completely OOP even for testing. DH's SA cost us $300 and I was told the HSG would be up to $1800. That's over 2 weeks pay for me so we're having to think about putting it off for a couple months. We technically "have" the money, but that was money we saved for me to take time off work with a newborn and hospital bills for an actual pregnancy and it took us over a year to save that up.
My coworker was just complaining that she paid $1500 OOP for her live birth, and I'm like WTF I will pay more than that just for one damn test to see if I'm alright.
That's completely insane. A factor of 10 difference in price for OOP is not OK. Our experience agrees with yours in that the IUI procedure itself and the sperm washing is usually $300 (and this article on IUI cost in 2012 seems to agree). I really don't know what to suggest concerning what to do except shop around more, or perhaps bring the issue up at your RE and see if they will negotiate with you too like the do the insurance company. I'd be surprised, but it can't hurt to try.
Good luck.