A complicated question regarding IVF charges when transfers don't happen

[butterfly_warrior]

Thanks, Megan. At least I know that part of it at least is normal. What's frustrating me is the way the cycles have been treated differently. If they'd given us a $545 credit on the two stim cycles then no problem. If they'd charged us the full cycle fee like before then also no problem, we can at least claim it back from medicare. It just feels like they are changing their rules to ensure that we have the worst possible outcome financially.

BW

[Chez67]

Hi BW

My first stim cycle didn't result in a transfer because none of the embies survived - very poor fert rate. We got about $300 in credit and medicare covered the cycle which started us off for the safety net. The second time around we only had 3 eggs collected and went to transfer with one. We got a $100 credit because there wasn't as much ICSI required due to the low number of eggs. Both of those were with MIVF.

It sounds like there needs to be some sort of industry code of practice with respect to charges and refunds. I understand your frustration and it is annoying when you pay for a service that you don't recieve, particularly for circumstances beyond your control!

I hope that helps.
xxx

[dusty]

It sounds like there needs to be some sort of industry code of practice with respect to charges and refunds. I understand your frustration and it is annoying when you pay for a service that you don't recieve, particularly for circumstances beyond your control!

YES YES YES!!! great idea chez! BW i haven't been in your situation per se, but have been frustrated with clinics on several occasions for the way they charge, change their charges and the like. unexpected and unjustified increases, changes etc seem to be becoming the norm and we just expected to cop it - mostly because the Medicare Safety Net is expected to catch some of the extras but not always. i have rung the Dept of Health, Ombudsmen offices, Aust Competition and Consumer Commission with no luck. It seems the clinics decide for themselves on charges with little thought of the impact on us or even just plain old fashioned courtesy of consultation.

I hear where you are coming from BW it makes my blood boil sometimes.

*dusty gets down off her soapbox*

i hope you get a better outcome hun.
xx

[belle333]

I had my first stim cycle in Feb - not well enough to transfer. So we were entitled to a credit but we were also charged separately for Freezing which we knew about.

The clinic (sydney ivf) rang and asked if it was okay to transfer the credit to the freeze charge. Thats was fine by me. Although I'm thinking about taking another look at the charges to make sure that the amount of our credit was correct.

[Shannon22]

Hi BW

I would definately say the clinic ripping you off!
I was a little miffed when we didn't get any reimbursement or credit when we didn't make it to transfer because of OHSS. But then the clinic bulk billed us this FET because of the no transfer last time so was very happy. But also with their FET cycles you don't pay anything until the day of transfer and if you don't make it you don't pay anything. I found this to be much more reasonable.

Have a chat with your FS about bulk billing the next cycle. Good luck hun!

Shan

[Megan]

Shannon, that sounds like a good deal. I wish my clinic operated like that.
If you dont make it to transfer on a fet cycle meaning you dont have to pay, does that mean clinic cover any blood tests or scans that you might have had?
It's a shame I'm not in brisbane with the way my embies thaw!!

[Loula]

wow all i can say is im really being ripped off!!

when our stim cycle tf was cancelled due to OHSS we didn't get anything back other than the Medicare cheque!!

Our clinic said that they didn't refund or give discount prices due to no tf and we had to pay the full fee.

i was so upset and now i see that a lot of you have been lucky enough to get something back

i agree there should be something set up with regards to how your should be charged when a cycle is cancelled

GL

[Megan]

Thanks, Megan. At least I know that part of it at least is normal. What's frustrating me is the way the cycles have been treated differently. If they'd given us a $545 credit on the two stim cycles then no problem. If they'd charged us the full cycle fee like before then also no problem, we can at least claim it back from medicare. It just feels like they are changing their rules to ensure that we have the worst possible outcome financially.

BW

BW, I completely understand where you're coming from. Our stim cycle where we ended up with no embies, was charges as a normal cycle. No refund from the clinic. We just received a refund from medicare for the safety net. Then it seems with a failed thaw, they change all the item numbers and you get nothing. Personally, I would prefer not to get the refund from them and put the full cycle fee through medicare towards my safety net. It's frustrating I know. I also think you should have to go back for a FET cycle when you only have one emby left. It's a lot of money to hand over when all your hopes are on one little emby surviving.