Costs Of Fertility Treatments
Cost of infertility treatments can be a stressful thing for a couple
. Trying to get pregnant and not being able to, can make both people feel as if they are inadequate. On top of that they have to consider the finances involved.Approximately 6.1 million women in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant. Infertility can usually be traced back to a medical condition that can be remedied. There are different types of procedures that could resolve the problem. Finding the right one would take a little investigation.
Invitro fertilization (IVF) is a common procedure, but is very expensive and time consuming and may not even result in a pregnancy the first time around. This as one of many types of infertility treatments can cost upwards of $10,000 every time that it is performed. Fertility drugs alone can cost several hundred dollars a month (due to the cost of prescriptions along with monthly doctor visits).
Aside from invitro fertilization, there are other procedures that can be performed. If you have endometriosis or blocked fallopian tubes, laparoscopic surgery can be performed at a cost between $1700 and $5,000. You should be aware however that because this is a diagnostic test, your insurance company would quite likely cover the cost. Be aware that treatments done in the hospital may cost more. Your doctor may advise against these choices though, because successful conception may be able to occur with other less invasive and expensive procedures.
Of course, women are not the only ones who have limited fertility. When men have varicose veins in their testicles (varicoles) the temperature in their testicles rise and limits sperm production. Variocelectomy surgey can result in improved sperm production at a cost of about $4,000. Subsequent to surgery the couple may strive for natural conception. In more serious cases, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is combined with IVF with a cost of about $20,000. And still, another option is artificial insemination which costs an average of $500 a cycle.
If you are worried about how you will pay for your infertility treatments, you should first check with your health insurance company to make sure that fertility treatments are covered under your health insurance plan. Most health insurances cover some amount of infertility treatments. If you are concerned with the remaining costs incurred, or if your insurance does not cover fertility treatments, you should talk to your doctor about possible financial aid programs that may be available to you. Even if you are covered by your insurance company, you want to watch out for the out-of-pocket costs that can range in the hundreds of dollars.
Remember that while having fertility issues can be discouraging there are creative ways to pay for infertility treatments.
by: Jordan Bruce