Affordable IVF In USA

By CNY Fertility Updated on
Affordable IVF In USA

If you are trying to conceive or suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss like 1 in 8 couples of reproductive age, you’ve likely stepped your foot into a fertility clinic in the past five years and gone through way too many fertility treatments.  And . . . if those treatments weren’t successful (or you have a genetic disorder requiring Preimplantation Genetic Testing), it’s likely your Fertility Doctor suggested you move on to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). And then the wave hit. “Wait; what? It’s going to cost how much? There’s got to be a more affordable option for IVF out there.”

Good news, there is! But first . . .

Why Affordable IVF is so Important:

There are a number of factors that combine to form the perfect storm regarding the importance of affordable IVF in today’s medical landscape:

The Average Cost of IVF is Really Expensive

  • The average cost of IVF is often quoted at $12,000, but that is just the price quoted by a fertility clinic for their base IVF package. Many other necessary expenses bring the true average to around $20,000 .
  • IVF doesn’t work the first time for many people. The unfortunate truth is that success rates top off around 50% in the best of circumstances. In fact, some studies have found that the average person/couple seeking IVF will need more than two-cycles (with a median of two) and spend $50-60,000 on treatment .

Insurance Doesn’t Often Cover IVF 

  • Despite infertility being a medical diagnosis and IVF being the best medical treatment for the diagnosis of infertility, a 2018 analysis of the IVF Insurance market by Mercer, found that 74% of Americans do not have insurance coverage for IVF .
  • Even states with laws mandating IVF coverage don’t have coverage for nearly everyone. The 2020 New York State IVF insurance mandate is a good example. While it is a great leap forward, there is so much wiggle room and exceptions, that the law leaves behind nearly 50% of the population by the simple fact that many Americans don’t work for companies with over 100 employees .
  • The Mercer report also confirmed a long-held assumption those with coverage were those of higher economic status. Those covered have an average salary of over $20,000 more than those without coverage.

The Average American Simply Doesn’t Make Enough to Afford IVF Priced Like a Luxury Good.

The median annual household income in the USA is roughly $63,000 with around $14,000 of discretionary income. 

The Perfect Storm for Affordable IVF

This lack of IVF insurance coverage combined with the fact that a single IVF treatment often costs more than the average American’s discretionary income causes finances to be the number one barrier to seeking fertility care. 

Fortunately, some options combine both affordable IVF pricing and financing to allow a vast majority of people the ability to pursue IVF.

CNY Fertility: One of The Cheapest IVF Clinics

Quite simply, CNY Fertility is one most affordable fertility clinics out there offering IVF for 1/3 the National Average.  We encourage you to explore our price calculator below, which conveniently calculates our pricing along with national averages.

Automatically Included
  • {{ tick.item }}
Add ons
More Info: {{ treatment.data.price.frozen_transfer.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.cryo_preserve.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.medication.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.zymot.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.pregmune.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.fet.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.donor_eggs.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.donor_package.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.donor_sperm.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.gestational_surrogacy.note | stripHTML }}
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.reciprocal_ivf.note | stripHTML }}
Discount
More Info: {{treatment.data.price.split_cycle.note | stripHTML }}
Finance
Sample Payment Calculator: Self Pay Pricing
  • {{treatment.data.name}} {{ treatment.data.price.base_price.cny|toCurrency }}
    National Average {{ treatment.data.price.base_price.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.monitor.remote.label }} Remote Cycle Management {{total_monitor.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{ treatment.data.price.monitor.in_house.label }} In House Monitoring {{total_monitor.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.monitor.remote.note_calc | stripHTML}} {{treatment.data.price.monitor.in_house.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{ total_monitor.others|toCurrency }}
    {{ treatment.data.price.reciprocal_ivf.note_calc ? treatment.data.price.reciprocal_ivf.note_calc : "Reciprocal IVF requires both partners to be monitored" }} {{ treatment.data.price.frozen_transfer.note_calc_monitor ? treatment.data.price.frozen_transfer.note_calc_monitor : "" }}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.frozen_transfer.label }} Frozen Transfer {{treatment.data.price.frozen_transfer.cny|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.cryo_preserve.label }} Cryopreservation + 1yr Storage {{treatment.data.price.cryo_preserve.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.cryo_preserve.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{treatment.data.price.cryo_preserve.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.genetic_testing.label }} Genetic Testing {{treatment.data.price.genetic_testing.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.genetic_testing.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{treatment.data.price.genetic_testing.third_party|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.medication.label }} Medication Estimate {{total_medication.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{total_medication.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{total_medication.third_party|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.zymot.label }} ZyMōt Sperm Processing ${{treatment.data.price.zymot.cny}}
    {{ treatment.data.price.zymot.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party ${{treatment.data.price.zymot.third_party}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.pregmune.label }} Pregmune Reproductive Immunology Testing {{treatment.data.price.pregmune.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{ treatment.data.price.pregmune.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{treatment.data.price.pregmune.third_party|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.donor_eggs.label }} Donor eggs {{total_donor_eggs.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.donor_eggs.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{total_donor_eggs.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.donor_sperm.label }} Donor sperm {{treatment.data.price.donor_sperm.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.donor_sperm.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{treatment.data.price.donor_sperm.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.donor_eggs.label }} Donor Package {{total_donor_package.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.donor_package.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{total_donor_package.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{ treatment.data.price.gestational_surrogacy.label }} Gestational Surrogacy {{treatment.data.price.gestational_surrogacy.cny|toCurrency}}
    {{treatment.data.price.gestational_surrogacy.note_calc | stripHTML}} Third Party {{treatment.data.price.gestational_surrogacy.others|toCurrency}}
  • {{treatment.data.price.split_cycle.label ? treatment.data.price.split_cycle.label : "Split Cycle Discount" }} {{discount_split_cycle|toCurrency}}
  • 5% Military & Veteran Discount {{discount|toCurrency}}
  • Financing Fee {{finance.fee|toCurrency}}
  • Total to CNY {{total.total | toCurrency}}
    Estimated 3rd Party Costs {{total.third_party| toCurrency}}
    Grand Total {{(total.total + total.third_party)| toCurrency}}
    National Average: {{total.national|toCurrency}}
  • Down Payment to CNY
    {{finance.payment_down_amount|toCurrency(2)}}
  • Monthly Payment to CNY
    {{finance.monthly_payment|toCurrency(2)}}

{{ treatments[treatment_selected]['data']['footnote'] }}

The above calculation is for simulation purposes only. It is reflective of self-pay pricing, includes highly variable estimates paid to CNY and third parties, and national averages obtained through internal research, FertilityIQ, ASRM, and Resolve. Billing through insurance will likely result in substantially different fees. CNY Fertility does not warrant or guarantee any price for services conducted or rendered by a third party and recommends everyone obtain written estimates from any medical facility involved in your treatment as well as verification of coverage from your insurance company prior to beginning treatment.

How is affordable IVF possible?

How do we do it? This is quite possibly the most common question we get. The answer is quite simple, but not very satisfying. We do it because we can. The simple fact of the matter is IVF doesn’t need to be so expensive. Due to increases in technology, the cost to run a fertility clinic has gone down dramatically since the early days of IVF.  While doctors have benefited from this in a reduction of expenses, those cost savings have not been passed along to patients in most cases. At CNY, we BELIEVE that reproduction is a human right and will do anything we can to make it as accessible as possible.

You can learn more about our founding story, how, and why we chose to provide a more affordable option here.

Are There Hidden Costs of Affordable IVF

There are certainly some additional costs on top of our base $4,500 IVF, but our (along with nearly all fertility clinic) pricing is broken up for a good reason. Many of the other costs are either variable (like medications that depend on the protocol) or are not needed by many (like genetic testing). If a fertility clinic were to make a package inclusive of all these variables, it’s likely that many would pay a great deal for things they never needed or used.

As you can see above, our $4,500 IVF includes what is normally around $12,000. As you add more things, our price, along with the national average continues to climb.

That said, it’s important to understand what’s included in our base cost (or that of any clinic’s base cost) and all the additional costs you might encounter.

What’s Included in our $4,500 IVF

  • The Egg Retrieval: This removes the eggs from the female’s ovaries.
  • Anesthesia for the retrieval:  This ensures a comfortable egg retrieval surgery. It is often not included in a clinic’s base price but is included in the $12,000 national average.
  • Sperm preparation: This prepares the sperm for fertilization.
  • Conventional or ICSI fertilization: ICIS is an extra cost at most fertility clinics and is not included in the $12,000 national average. It has an average price of $1,500, but can be as much as $3,000.
  • Assisted Hatching: Assisted Hatching is often needed to help the embryo shed its outer shell, which is needed for implantation. It is rarely included in a clinic’s base price and is not included in the $12,000 national average.
  • Cryopreservation – Remember, in an IVF cycle, there are often more embryos made than can be transferred back into the woman’s uterus.
  • 1 Fresh Embryo Transfer: The process of putting the embryo back into the woman’s uterus.

What’s Not Included in our $4,500 IVF – and needed by everyone (or almost everyone)

  • Monitoring: Monitoring includes the ultrasounds and bloodwork needed for an IVF treatment to be timed properly and conducted safely. While it is included in the $12,000 national average, it is not included in our base price for two reasons. Many people who
  • Medications: Medications are used in just about every IVF cycle, but the protocol and cost of each varies incredibly.  Medications are billed for by pharmacies.

What’s Not Included in our $4,500 IVF- and needed by only some people

  • Frozen Transfer: Frozen transfers are only needed by some people, usually as a second transfer with remaining embryos, in order to do genetic testing, or in other circumstances when a fresh transfer is not medically advised.
  • Preimplantation Genetic Testing (AKA Embryo Genetic Testing): It can be useful to lower the odds of miscarriage, especially for women in their late thirties and beyond, to choose the sex of the child, and to avoid known genetic disorders.
  • Reciprocal IVF: Is done by lesbian (or trans male) couples and enables both partners to be biologically involved in the child creation process.
  • Donor Sperm: This is used for significant male factor infertility, single or lesbian women.
  • Donor Eggs: Donor eggs may be added to their cycle for those who wish to improve their odds of a live birth but would still like to try to use their own eggs if possible.
  • Surrogacy: Surrogacy is used for those who, for some reason, can not carry a child.

Options for IVF Financing: Because Affordable IVF Isn’t Really Cheap at All

When considering fertility clinics and looking for affordable IVF options, one of the options many people turn to is financing. Even as one of the most affordable fertility clinics, $4,500 plus all the other costs truly is not cheap.  Even with our pricing, a majority of those paying out of pocket set up some sort of payment plan. While there are many other third-party financing options available, most find that our minimal monthly account management fee of $40/month beats any interest rate available to them for IVF financing. Additionally, CNY does not check credit scores, has a 100% approval rate, and allows you to start treatment with about $200 down.

Does the Cost of Travel Wipe out any Savings:

Many people travel to CNY from out of state and even out of the country. In fact, over 50% of our clients come from states that we don’t have offices in and over 5% from out of the country. While many low-cost IVF programs abroad require you be out of the country and away from your home and job for the entirety of the IVF treatment (roughly 3-7 weeks) our unique user-friendly travel program is guided by our team of travel nurse concierges, who help coordinate and manage most of your treatment remotely, so you only need to travel to us for the actual egg retrieval and embryo transfer.

Due to the unpredictability of retrieval and transfer days, we generally recommend buying flexible/refundable flights or even drive.

The range of travel costs varies greatly when traveling to CNY due to the significant amount of variables, including the distance being traveled and personal preferences that go into the actual travel (driving vs. flying) and local accommodation.  While it’s hard to gauge the exact cost of traveling, we recommend you take a look at our partner hotels (that you can find by going to our location pages), Airbnb, and the price of flights/gas to and from where you live. 

“Give the incredible price difference between CNY and most fertility clinics, we find that even including travel expenses most people are still able to save around $10,000 per IVF cycle”

Guarantee Programs: 

While guarantee programs are usually not cheap, they do offer the promise of a hefty refund should you walk away without a child at the end of some predetermined number of IVF cycles.

Our guarantee packages, the Fertile Guarantee™, range from $16,000-26,000 for 6 IVF cycles, of course not including the cost of medications or genetic testing.

Odds of Walking Home With A Baby: Is a Cheap IVF Clinic Worth It?

One of the first things you probably think of when looking into cheaper IVF options is the good old saying of you get what you pay for. While it is an often true statement, we’ll show you why and how it doesn’t apply to IVF.

It’s something that’s just plain smart to look into and something we happily invite you to invest.  You can find the success rates for the national average here and CNY Fertility here.  You will see that year after year, we are in line with the national average in every category.  Sure, some years, we may be slightly ahead in some categories and some others slightly below, but we are always near the national average.

AND as SART (the organization that collects and reports the data) explicitly warns: “Clinics may have differences in patient selection, treatment approaches, and cycle reporting practices which may inflate or lower pregnancy rates relative to another clinic.” In essence, they mean that it is common practice in reproductive medicine to have different patient qualifications, or who they allow to have treatment.  At CNY, we believe true success is only achieved in helping EVERYONE achieve the family of their dreams. That means we treat a large population of people that were turned away from other clinics for their Age, AMH or FSH levels, BMI, or the number of failed cycles. While this certainly affects our success rates, it is something we are proud of and thoroughly embrace, as we believe it’s a basic human right to have access to the reproductive resources needed to start or expand one’s family.

The Largest Benefit of Affordable IVF: The Realistic Ability to Pursue Multiple Cycles

What’s the biggest benefit of pursuing IVF with a fertility clinic like CNY that offers affordable options and the ability to finance? The ability to pursue multiple cycles. Even with our great success rates, if you remember what was said above, the average person/couple needs to go through multiple IVF cycles to get pregnant or carry that pregnancy to term.  This, the ability to have two cycles for the price of one, even when factoring in all outside costs, is perhaps the single greatest thing about finding and an affordable IVF clinic.

 

 

Article Sources