The Cost involved with IVF

[Keen]

It seems this is a subject which comes up fairly regularly and to save us all repeating ourselves over and over someone has made the wonderful suggestion that we make a sticky post and include all our responses in that.

Now unfortunately I am unable to move or copy posts that we have done in the past into here, so I thought I would ask if everyone wouldnt mind posting again in here and then they will not have to post anymore, but anyone looking for that info can still find it quite quickly.


Thanks everyone!


PS. If you have posted before back in November, here is the link, if you want to refresh on what you posted


Keen

[Keen]

My experience with SIVF was to cost the following:

$3070 SIVF fees (after medicare rebate)
$1090 extra for ICSI
$1390 Day surgery fees
$185 anaesthesist
Total out-of-pocket $5735

Lucrin and pessary costs were on top of that

$225 for Lucrin
$20 Puregon
Not sure of price of pessaries (didnt get that far)

Freezing remaining embies cost:
$670



Keen

[JOJA]

This is MIVF fee list, as of 21/2/05

Admin fee (first cycle only) $210
Doner/recipient surcharge $500

Stim IVF cycle
Complete cycle $1470
OPU only (no ET) $1403
Canx before 9 days $376
GIFT cycle $1594
ICSI surcharge $600

Natural IVF cycle
Complete cycle $951
OPU only $884
Canx before 9 days $951

Thaw cycle
Complete cycle $518
Planning only $196

Additional charges
Embryo biopsy(PGD) $1650
Specific PGD (work up) $550
Assisted hatching $260
Testicular biopsy lab surcharge $220
Semen analysis $70
Fee for doner embryo $260
Embryo storage fee (6 mths) $90
Sperm storage (PA) $210
Sperm straw $115
Doner insem cycle $389
Artificial insem $262.15
Doner egg stim cycle $1921
(recipent fees)

Anaesthetic $200

Hospital bed
Freemasons $720
Royal womens $249

*All fees have had any medicare benefit taken out except for the anaesthetic*

HTH
Jo

[Hayseed]

These are my last lot of costs wheich were through MIVF (Freemasons) about 12 months ago. The prices Jo posted above are probably more current.

Administration fee $200
IVF cycle (completed) $3119*
ICSI $290
Embryo biopsy $1375
Anaesthetic $200
Hospital bed $650*
TOTAL $5834
Medicare rebates $1959 + $110 = $2069
(IVF cycle and anaesthetic)
TOTAL OUT OF POCKET $3765
(* these are the only costs I got a medicare rebate on)

On top of this, I have to take off various private health insurance rebates (eg I only pay $200 for the hospital bed, so a rebate of $450), but I have to include anything extra not covered on this such as extra blood work or scans not covered int he "global fee", any extra medication (eg. $90 for Syneral, $350 for Orgalutron).

So I would say that all up, my average costs were about $2000 - $2500 if I didn't include the embryo biopsying ( which is definately not done all the time and not a consideration for many couples on IVF).

Hayseed

[shell_l_d]

Hunter IVF Cost Sheet:
(no mention of 80% Medicare Safety Net rebates though, for those whom are eligible)

HUNTER IVFESTIMATED COST SHEET
'Description' 'Hunter IVF' 'Prepayment' 'Medicare' 'Out of Pocket'
Registration Fee $120.00 $120.00 Nil $120.00
Stimulated IVF Cycle $4449.95 $2499.40 99.40 $2400.00
Natural IVF Cycle $2348.55 $1367.40 99.40 $1268.00
Frozen embryo Transfer $1608.70 $941.75 61.75 $880.00
Deferred Frozen Embryo Transfer $847.80 $211.75 61.75 $150.00
Artificial Insemination $883.50 $519.40 99.40 $420.00
Donor Insemination (includes Donor Sperm) $1058.50 $694.40 99.40 $595.00
Donor Egg cycle management $560.00 $560.00 Nil $560.00
Ovulation Induction management $560.00 $560.00 Nil $560.00
Ovulation Induction with AIH $1123.20 $766.40 99.40 $667.00
Tracking Cycles $150.00 $150.00 Nil $150.00
ICSI -Sperm Microinjection. $400.00 $400.00 Nil $400.00
Embryo Biopsy - FISH $1700.00 $1700.00 Nil $1700.00
Assisted Hatching $320.00 $320.00 Nil $320.00
Embryo Defragmentation $300.00 $300.00 Nil $300.00
Blastocyst Culture $400.00 $400.00 Nil $400.00
Sperm Recovery - Testicular Biopsy $200.00 $200.00 Nil $200.00
Donor Sperm $175.00 $175.00 Nil $175.00
Non global ultrasound scans $60.00 $60.00 Nil $30.25
TOTAL COST to be paid before cycle
Possible Additional Costs
Sperm Treatment Assessment $50.00 $50.00 Nil $50.00
Semen Analysis (referred to HAPS) $35.00 $35.00 Nil $0.00
Embryo freezing and storage $200.00/year $200.00/year Nil $200.00
Progesterone pessaries (30) $120.00 $120.00 Nil $120.00
Sperm freezing and storage $200.00/year $200.00/year Nil $200.00
ICSI Sperm Microinjection $400.00 $400.00 Nil $400.00

OTHER COSTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH HUNTER IVF MAY INCLUDE:

MEDICATIONS – SUCH AS SYNAREL. THIS MAY BE CLAIMABLE THROUGH YOUR ANCILLARY COVER.

NIB PRIVATE HOSPITAL- CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTH FUND WHETHER THE ENTIRE FEE IS COVERED.

ANAESTHETIST’S – SOME CHARGE – A SMALL OUT OF POCKET. WE CAN ARRANGE A QUOTE IF NECESSARY.

Effective 1 January 2005.
Hunter IVF Fees are subject to change without notice

[ann]

My cost through SIVF (Lismore)

Full stim cycle (ICSI) $4,200
Day Surgery $1,200
Lucrin $ 200
Storage of Embies $ 600 pa
Total $6,200

We recieved a cheque from medicare for the Dr for $1,900 which we sent on, and only recently we recieved our rebate cheque for $1,900.

We also had other expenses eg. the first ultrasound and the last pg bt that wasn't included in the global fee.

in all I think we were $4,440 out of pocket.

Ann

[BumbleBea]

Here are our costs for SIVF in Sydney City

First cycle (Flare Cycle)
Total upfront cost paid : $6675.80 (excluding ICSI, which because it was reinsemination, not planned we were not charged)
Medicare Refund: $4315.74
Private Refund: $650
Total Out of Pocket : $1710.06
Plus Medication Costs: ~$500

Second Cycle (Full Down Reg Stim Cycle, incl ICSI)
Total Upfront Cost Paid (incl ICSI) - $7256.05
Medicare Rebate: $4809.05
Private Rebate: $650
Total Out of Pocket: $ 1797
Plus Medications: ~$200

Third Cycle (Natural FET)
Total Upfront Cost: $3748.50
Medicare Rebate: $1495.15
Private Rebate: $52
Total Out of Pocket: $2201.35
Plus Medications : $500 (and rising)

Adds up quick doesn't it??

[Sal]

Gab, can I ask who you're privately insured with? I'm with SIVF city, and my cycles cost more than yours (and no ICSI for me, either). I'm with MBF and I believe that they are poor for IVF coverage. I'm currently shopping around and working out who I should change to before I start IVF again...

[BumbleBea]

Sleebs, we are with Medibank Private. I have their couple Advantage Plus Hospital and Advantage Plus Extras Package. I think it is the same as the top cover ?called blue ribbon, but just has a larger excess for the hospital - can't remember how much, but will find out. With the current hikes in price, it now costs about $210/month. A fair whack.....

But they are all about the same hey??

[Sal]

Thanks! Will check 'em out.

[shell_l_d]

wow, that is expensive, i thought it'd just be the natural fet cost (eg: hunter ivf cost sheet above). doh.

I just joined private health last month & am through smhp (super members health plan, which is thru gmhba), cheap.

Also phoned iselect (link in bb supported sites thread) & they suggested hcf for hospital cover, as have shorter wait for ivf & similar cost, but to stick with smhp (gmhba) for std extras. Eg: $153/mth i think up to $163/mth combined.

[Baby~amore`]

I am with Westmead IVF- anyone else ? they said no costs are claimable on private health because outpatient only and only claim inpatient costs.

I am HCF hospital and multicover but this does not cover assisted reproduction anyway - will I still be able to claim the medications I wonder ? Might we worth upgrading ? research :-k

They are a little cheaper :-s than some I think but not sure now I see the other OOP but they don't mention anything about 80% rebate either after you reach the yearly threshold. - which I think the tax thieves raised in the budget - at least at Westmead they don't make you pay the medicare portion only out of pocket up front.

Then when you get medicare cheque you forward it back to them.

Have to ask more questions but the money is well spent. All the money in the world isn't going to make me happy like a baby will. :-k

[belmarks]

Hi Shell, I am a Hunter IVF graduate, just wanted to check in and see how you are doing with them? Hope you like it with them, I certainly did, very friendly staff and so interested and helpful in each and every case.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of treatment are you on?

I was having IVF with them due to PCOS. Took us 6 transfers before we got our little miracle. How are you going with it all?

[shell_l_d]

Hi Belinda, thnx for asking, yeah Tiff also mentioned she's a hunter ivf girl whom has just fallen pg. So good to hear it works, congrats. Yep had my nurse aptmt with them in Mar/Apr, seem very nice.

I too am from Newcastle (or Lake Macq I shld say). I post-poned AIH coz of waiting for surgery for endo, which I had last Tue, more info here:
http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/90983

Going to try just clomid next mth, then clomid & AIH, but hoping I'll be pg by then, esp. since friend whom started TTC at same time fell in her 1st mth (naturally) is about to start trying again, so hope she doesn't beat me for the 2nd time in a row IYKWIM. :-)

[belmarks]

IKWYM about friends falling before you, that happened to me so many times. I was starting to think that my friends would be onto their second baby before I would even fall pregnant, but thankfully, we go there in the end.

Good luck with it and if you ever need any info about what we went through, please let me know.

PS, which dr are you seeing Hedges or Raymond??

[shell_l_d]

Great thnx. Dr Hedges.

Also, we've been together since 93 as well (July), married in Oct 03.

[belmarks]

Dr Hedges has been my gyno for about 8 or 9 years. He is fantastic. He really knows his stuff, so you can trust him to do the right thing by you. He has just come back from Turkey he was over there at an international Fertility conference.

good luck with it, and PM me if you need any questions answered....

[Baby~amore`]

Just to add my costs -Westmead Fertility Centre

Ist full stim cycle $1300
(including Synarel $100 -not claimable)
(Plus BCP $30 approx)

Medicare refund $ 585 approx but we had already a bit of safety net threshold covered

So Out of pocket (OOP)$715 ($745 with BCP)

(BTW - if full medicare rebate claimed OOP is approx $340)

1st FET - $500
Medicare refund $412.35 (we reached threshold on 1st stim cycle)
OOP - $82.65

I added this because I know some people think IVF is out of reach with high costs but it is afordable.

If you need ICSI on stim cycle - it adds another $500 with most of which is not claimable on medicare $100).