Can someone explain the safety net and best ways to save money on IVF

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hi All,

Can someone explain to me how the safety net works? I read here and there its best to start IVF at the beginning of the calendar year?

Why? Also, is the safety net means tested?

Are there other financial ways to save on IVF?

Thanks in advance.

[Maruschke]

IVF is cheaper (you get more back) after you have reached the safety net. So, you aim to only pay the safety net once, by (hopefully) squeezing all of your treatments into one year.

HTH

[Miss.B]

I remember 3 years ago when I did my first cycle, that after I paid the $4800 or so (can't remember now sorry!) I automatically reached the safety net and then I was getting 80% back from most my bills. Don't know how much has changed now though, but the aim it to reach the safety net (I think it's around $1500??).

[Mum2SweetCs]

ok that makes sense.

I had top hospital cover for 9 years (company paid for it) but since being made redundant from that company i am now on the lowest hospital cover! DAMN!!!

[nothing2lose]

I pay just under $8,000 for a stim cycle (no ICSI), then $805 for egg pickup, $250 for anesthetic, $380 for transfer.

I get back about $5,500 from Medicare (after threshold is reached).

I think the first cycle of the year is an extra $2,000.

[Maruschke]

My transfer is 800 bucks! We had to use ICSI and all up we are out of pocket 4800.

[LizLemon]

Hiya

The safety net resets each year at 1st January, so the earlier in the year you start your cycles, the more cycles you can fit in under the safety net.

It basically kicks in once you reach a particular threshold of out of pocket expenses (only on medicare stuff, as opposed to all medical things like the medical expenses rebate for tax) and then you get rebated 80% of your out of pocket expenses (on medicare items). It's not as good as it used to be, as they've put caps on IVF and obstetric costs, but you do still get some benefit.

Another thing is to look at your private health. We upped our cover to top hospital as it covered the hospital part of the IVF (ie the egg collection) and the anaesthetist so to up the cover cost us more but saved us about $500 per collection.