Buying IVF Meds
nawlinsgrl
member
I came on here starting to vent about my situation, and then realized that I could not, in good conscience do so, since I am fortunate enough to have full IVF coverage for 4 more IVF cycles.
I thought it was the same with my IF meds coverage, albeit with a copay, since I'd paid only a small fraction of the cost of all my meds last year for IVF (I paid around $950 for enough meds for 2 weeks, at increasingly higher doses). Today I found out that there is only a $10,000 lifetime max on the meds, so it looks like I'll be OOP for those pretty soon, possibly for part of this cycle.
So, while I am incredibly grateful for what coverage I do have, which is still the lion's share of it all, I was caught off guard by this new financial cost if we have to try as many as 4 times, which is a good $20,000 or more for meds, since I require high doses.
If you are still reading, many thanks. Now to my question: for those of you who are OOP, where do you purchase your meds? I will be doing Lupron microflare (not sure of the exact dose just yet), Menopur, Lupron, and Novarel.
IVF #1: 9/11: ER: 12R, 11M, 10F, No Frosties; 5dt: 2 blasts, 1 morula; DD born 6/3/12
IVF #2: 11/12-12/12: ER: 20R, 20M, 16F, 4 Frosties; 5dt: 3 blasts, DS born 8/9/13
Re: Buying IVF Meds
I think it is great that you are thankful for the coverage you have and totally understand the frustration with paying for any of it. People who don't suffer with IF don't understand what it can take, emotionally, physically, and finacially just to try for a baby. We are here for ya.
I haven't done IVF, but I do get my HCG shot from Freedom Fertility Pharmacy. They are awesome! They even sent it overnight last cycle since we detected my surge sooner than expected. My SIL also used them when purchasing her IVF meds and was very pleased.
Good Luck! I hope you don't need to go through all of your IF coverage and that this is your cycle.
Dx: PCOS and short luteal phase
18 cycles (3 with our RE) - Metformin + Clomid + HCG booster did the trick!
BFP #1 6/22/09 EDD: 3/2/10 DS born: 3/8/10
TTC #2 since Dec 2011
BFP #2 7/8/12 EDD: 3/18/12 M/C @ 9w1d: 8/16/12
TTC #2 since 2009 Have PCOS two close calls with letrozole and hcg trigger. Hoping 3rd time does the trick...
Waiting for next year doesn't help. It's a $10K lifetime max. The only difference between now and next year is the amount of my copay, which is effected by my copay, so it would have been cheaper to stock up this year if IVF#2 fails, since my copay is 10% now that my deductible has been met.
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I spent the morning calling and emailing a lot of pharmacies to get prices, and like PP said, I figured out that I will probably do better ordering different meds from different pharmacies.
On the bright side, my frugal, bargain-hunting ways that DH teases me about will come in handy now!
IVF #1: 9/11: ER: 12R, 11M, 10F, No Frosties; 5dt: 2 blasts, 1 morula; DD born 6/3/12
IVF #2: 11/12-12/12: ER: 20R, 20M, 16F, 4 Frosties; 5dt: 3 blasts, DS born 8/9/13
6/2011- DH started chemo for testicular cancer
9/2011- Remission!!!!
6/2012- IUI #1 natural with HCG shot- banked sperm (BFN)
7/2012- IUI #2 natural with HCG shot- banked sperm (BFN)
-changed RE-
11/13/12- IVF #1 Bravella 225/Menopur 150/Ganarelix, triggered with Lupron. 11/27- 8R/2M + 2 mature next day/ 4 fertilized/ 2 grade III with 20% fragmentation transferred back on day 3. No frosties. BFN. Boo
Plan: New semen analysis in January and #2 IVF hopefully with fresh sample in March.
First Time: DD born 3/2011 after trying for two years, LAP, and two IUIs w/ Femera + Ovidrel
This Time: 4/12 Femera IUI #1 BFN, 5/12 Femera + TI BFN, 6/12 Femera + IUI #2 BFN, 7/12 Femera + IUI #3 BFN, 8/12 Follistim IUI #4 BFN
IVF #1: ER 11/5/12 : 17 eggs retrieved/6 fertilized, ET 11/10/12 : 5dt of 2 embies/0 frosties BFN
IVF #2: ER 1/28/13 : 12 eggs retrieved/9 fertilized, ET 2/2/13 : 5dt of 2 embies/0 frosties BFN
IVF #3: ER 4/15/13 : 13 eggs retrieved/7 fertilized, ET 4/18/13 : 3dt of 3 embies/0 frosties BFN
Laparoscopy 5/24/13 : Stage 2 Endo, Scaring, and Both tubes Blocked but successfully Opened
IVF #4 (Clinical Trial): ER 7/22/13 : 15 eggs/8 fertilized, ET 7/25/13 : 3dt of 3 embies/0 frosties BFN
IVF #5: ER 11/4/13 : 13 eggs/12 fertilized, ET 11/9/13 : 5dt of 2 embies/0 frosties BFP!!! Beta 11/20/13 = 447 1 Beautiful Baby! EDD: July 28, 2014
Thanks for all the recommendations. I have put together a list of the following pharmacies
and will making a spreadsheet with the prices for Menopur, Follistim 300, 600, and 900, Novarel, and Lupron (once I find out my microflare dose from RE). I'll post my results once I have all the info.
If anyone has other pharmacies they have used or recommend, please pass them along, and I'll research their prices as well.
IVF #1: 9/11: ER: 12R, 11M, 10F, No Frosties; 5dt: 2 blasts, 1 morula; DD born 6/3/12
IVF #2: 11/12-12/12: ER: 20R, 20M, 16F, 4 Frosties; 5dt: 3 blasts, DS born 8/9/13
Love, luck, and prayers to my BFPB Dr. SnowflakeBride
Wow. This is going to be so helpful! Thank you for posting!