Infertility is a disease that can affect both males and females and many couples must resort to more advanced medical treatments such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in-vitro fertilization) in order to produce a biological child. The average cost of an IUI is $865 and the average cost of IVF is $8,158, not including medications which can cost up to $6,000. The success rates for these treatments range from 5% to 50%, depending on multiple factors such as age and infertility diagnosis. That means most couples must endure multiple treatments before they are successful. It can be costly to treat infertility because many companies do not offer insurance coverage or their coverage is limited to less expensive treatments. For couples whose insurance does not cover infertility there are other ways to make such treatments affordable. Here is a compilation of resources available to couples who need help in offsetting the cost of their infertility treatments.
Infertility Grant and Scholarship Programs
Many couples are unaware that infertility grants even exist. Most people hear about adoption grants but very little is mentioned about free money for infertility. While it’s true that there are few grant programs for infertility compared to those for adoption it’s important to highlight those programs that do offer financial assistance. Only through education and awareness can these non-profit organizations continue to provide services for infertile couples.
Fertile Dreams is one of the most well-known grant programs. They offer the Embracing Hope Grant which awards up to three $10,000 grants each fall for IVF treatments. The grant does not cover the cost of medications and age restrictions apply. Grants cannot be used for IUI treatments or frozen embryo transfers but may be used for IVF cycles with donor eggs or surrogacy.
INCIID is another organization with an IVF scholarship program. The organization stresses that their program is not a grant, therefore money is not awarded to pay for infertility treatments. Instead applicants are chosen to receive a donated cycle from participating facilities across the US, therefore travel may be required. Certain restrictions apply and recipients of the program are required to fund raise $3,000 on behalf of INCIID before being matching with a donating clinic. In order to apply a person must be an annual donating member of the organization at a Bronze level or higher. The annual cost for a bronze level membership is $55.
The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers the Family Building Grant. The program awards up to $10,000 per family and the money can be used for fertility treatment or domestic adoption. Applications for 2010 are being accepted through June 15th. A $50 application fee applies.
Parenthood for Me is a small non-profit organization that has a new grant program for infertility or adoption assistance. Their first grants will be awarded in June 2010 for an undisclosed amount. Application deadline is April 20, 2010.
B.U.M.P.S., Inc. is another grassroots organization that offers grants for fertility treatments. In 2009 they awarded grants to 6 couples. Partial and full grants are given and do not cover the cost of medication. Applicants must meet the ASRM definition of infertility and age restrictions apply. There is no application fee.
Angels of Hope, Inc. is an organization located in Illinois that provides infertility grants. Grants are only available to residents of Illinois and northwest Indiana. Preference is given to residents within a 24-mile radius of Morris, IL and to couples with no children. Grants are awarded each April and September.
Pay it Forward Fertility is a new non-profit organization based in North Carolina. They offer infertility grants for three groups of qualified NC candidates: couples who cannot afford fertility treatments such as IVF, military personnel stationed in NC who are being deployed and want to cryopreserve their semen, eggs or embryos and cancer patients who want to cryopreserve their semen, eggs or embryos before beginning chemotherapy. Applicants can use the grant money for donor eggs and embryo adoption as well as surrogacy. Grant money does not cover the cost of medication. Applications for 2010 are due by October 1st.
The Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation is a non-profit based in Ohio that provides local fertility grants. Applicants must reside in the Greater Cincinnati area and must not have undergone previous IVF cycles. Income limitations apply.
Lotus Blossom Consulting is an infertility consulting service that offers and organizes multiple family building options such as surrogacy, egg banking and egg donation. They also offer financial planning services for infertility treatments. The company has organized a charitable fund called the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund which provides a free IVF cycle (medications included) for those in financial need. An application is required. Income, age and other restrictions apply.
The Cleveland Clinic offers the Partnership For Families Program for their infertility patients. It offers a second IVF cycle to those patients who had an unsuccessful cycle and are unable to afford another one. In 2009 140 couples received a free second cycle from this program.
Clinical Trials
Some couples choose to participate in a Clinical Trial to offset the cost of fertility treatments. By using the search function on the website you can find trial studies in your area for procedures such as IUI or IVF . You can also search trials by your particular infertility diagnosis such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). The trials do not offer completely free treatments, instead they offer partial compensation for participating in the study. Some of the trials offer a stipend payment ($1,500 for example) while other trials offer free medications. Each trial has its own acceptance criteria such as age restrictions and/or BMI restrictions as well as certain diagnosis criteria. Investigate each trial study thoroughly before signing up.
Fundraising
Couples can get creative and use fundraising as a way to pay for their infertility treatments. They can organize a yard sale, dinner party or car wash. They can also raffle a valuable item to raise money or simply participate in a traditional fundraiser that sells products from a catalog. A Mother’s Love is a grassroots organization started by an adoptive mother named Valerie Gagnon. She helps organize fundraisers for couples who need to raise money for adoption or infertility. A nominal fee of $25 is charged when requesting a fundraising packet. Couples can also utilize websites such as Give Forward and Chip In to create a free fundraising web page to advertise with family and friends.
Free Medications
Medications for infertility treatments can cost anywhere from $500 to $6,000. In fact, for some treatments it is possible for the medications to cost more than the procedure itself. EMD Serono, the makers of Gonal-f, Ovidrel, Luveris and Cetrotide injectible medications, has an offer of $500 off Gonal-f medications, good through June 30, 2010. They also have a program called the Compassionate Care Program which offers a one-time supply of medications to couples who exhibit financial need. Applicants must meet certain criteria including income limitations. While no website is available about the program, those who are interested can contact Fertility Lifelines at (866) LETS TRY (866-538-7879). Ferring Fertility, makers of Menopur, Bravelle, Endometrin, Repronex and Novarel, has a H.E.A.R.T. program to offset the cost of their medications. By paying $10 for a one-year membership couples can save up to $1,800 on their Bravelle prescription and up to $300 on their Menopur prescription.
While infertility treatments have no guarantee of success, couples can hopefully utilize the resources available to them to minimize the cost of such treatments and save their money for raising a child instead of creating one.
