IVF - How do you afford it?

[nic]

We did the same as Ellie, saved some money, got a interest free for 6 months credit card, paid for the cycle, put the refunds on the credit card, and then paid the difference with what we had saved.
We were lucky enough to even have a little left over.

Nic

[butterfly_warrior]

We were slowly saving in a reasonably half-hearted way for a house deposit. That money got redirected to IVF.

We paid cash upfront for each cycle, with the medicare rebates going back into that account. Killing the medicare safety net limit helped heaps, but as our treatment spanned two years we had to do it twice.

From experience - if your treatment is going to go over two calendar years, try to time things so that you have a FET cycle first up to kill the safety net, and then everything else is a whole lot easier. Not awalys possible, but it helped us out a lot at the start of this year to do it that way.

After three stim cycles and three and a half frozen embryo transfers (half because our last embryo failed to thaw) even with the recycling of medicare rebates, we'd depleted the savings and were at the point of having to save like mad to be able to go again. Fortunately, that last transfer took.

Of course, using existing savings is only an option if they exist - but we don't have a mortgage to redraw on (we rent) and really didn't want to get a credit card with a limit high enough to cover our stim cycles as we'd be tempted to use it for other things and then have trouble paying it off. It's all a matter of finding the system that works for you.

BW

[~BecD~]

We used our credit card to make the initial amount, and then the medicare rebate went straight back onto it. While it's not ideal, we didn't exactly have 10k lying around in cash so we did it. Also you get frequent flyer points on DH's credit card so it made sense at the time. Once you pass the safety net things become much more manageable anyhow.

[farmgirl77]

we used the credit card to pay the out of pocket amount, then redraw off the house loan to cover that until we get the medicare rebate - and to cover anything that the rebate does not. as a result we are not as far ahead on our home loan as we would like, but that is just the way it is

[dusty]

Good question AS.

I am with SIVF. I actually got a letter from them the other day and and they now don't require upfront payment. So it makes saving a whole lot easier.

I just got that letter too and was really surprised seeing the one exactly a year before was about the up front rates going up by over 20%.

Muppity can I ask has SIVF Canberra clinic got the private health insurance cover now so the day treatment procedures can be billed direct to your PHI? A year ago when the new facility was build, the day procedures had to be paid up front ($1000+/$500+ for EPU and ET respectively) with little or no PHI coverage, as they hadn't been approved by any of the PHI at that time (which they didn't tell anyone about before the procedures).

BTW the letter does mention the cost will go up in November with the new Medicare rates announced then. The cynic in me wonders how much more they will aim to charge now with this new system...

To answer your question AS, we use our Credit Card and hope we can get the rebate before it the CC payment is due and interest is charged.

[CeCe]

We would be going through Sydney IVF through their Canberra clinic as they are the closest to us (regional NSW).

If you will be travelling to Canberra there is also Canberra Fertility Centre to consider. They are close in location to SIVF Canberra. Just a thought if you wanted to look at their fee structure. I was told their fees may be changing in November as that is when medicare release a new schedule. CFC have just recently stopped providing crinone/pessaries at transfer with them having to be purchased now.

[Caramello]

we are going though westmead IVF it is 1450.00

Mrs Mac - is this IVF Australia, Westmead or Westmead Fertility Clinic?

Are you doing IVF or IUI?

The reason I'm asking is that we are going through IVF Australia, Westmead and that cost sounds about right for IUI.

IVF is between $4800 to $5500 for Westmead clinic - more for day surgery etc. You have to pay this upfront.

To answer your question Amy Sarah,

I have instructed the tax department to tax me at the highest tax bracket - this was left over from HECS and I haven't changed it. DH is also taxed at the higher bracket due to HECS as he is currently going to uni. This means we get a return that covers the IVF cycle.

Unfortunately, due to the move, we haven't done our taxes yet, so we have borrowed the money from the bank as a personal loan and will pay it back with the return from Medicare due to the Safety Net (which we've just hit).

[barney]

hey gargy were going through the same clinic as mrs m and its westmead fertility clinic we also pay $1450 for normal ivf or $1750 for a split cycle ivf-icsi there a non for profit organization so heaps cheaper hope this helps
oh and this covers every thing syneral,injections,bt,scans every thing no extras at all and 2 years free cryo storage yay

[lil_chookie]

I just pay for it with the credit card and then put the satey net money on when I get it and transfer the difference from our savings account. We have been doing FET cycles and I don't find us to be that much out of pocket. If this cycle is unsucessful we will get another stim cycle in this year, which is good for us $$ wise. Although I hate having to think of it like that, but it is the reality unfortunately.

[*MRS M*]

thanks smithy for replying
sarah

[Willow]

Paid up front on C/C and then refunded from medicare and paid the difference off ourselves.

Ditto - worked really, really well for us.

[Yvette1278]

Hi everyone

I am currently doing an IVF ISCI treatment.

I paid $3360.00 up front just before I started taking my injections. After my transfer Melbourne IVF sent me an official receipt and I went to medicare. Medicare reimbursed me $2702.00 which left me out of pocket $658.00. If I had private health insurance that covered assisted reproduction then I would of been able to claim a portion of the $658.00 as well. But we didn't.

TIP: You must register for the medicare safety net. The medicare safety net runs from Jan - Dec (Calendar Year) Once you have reached out of pocket expenses of $1048.00 they you automatically receive 80% back from Medicare.

Suggestion: Start your IVF treatment in January. You shoud reach the safetynet after your 1st cycle and if you have to do subsequent cycles at least you get 80% back for the rest of the year.

But if you start now, you will have to be out of pocket $1048.00 or there abouts, before you claim 80% and then start all over again in January.

As someone said above each clinic is different. Best you check with them.

[Aimz]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions girls!!

I think we would end up going the credit card road. We would just lift our limit on our current card and pay it back when we are reimbursed by medicare. I like the suggestion of not doing another cycle until the card has been fully cleared - great motivator to pay off the debt!

Thanks all so much for your input. I know it's a personal question and now I have a much better idea of how we can do it (if we need to). At least I don't have to dread trying to save up for the next 1000 years!!

[Bengal]

Yvette 1278 - I am at Melbourne IVF as well , I feel like I have made the right choice, I hope you do too

[tippytoes]

Hi Lovely Amysarah

I love how you are doing all your research - very exciting. At our clinic we only have to pay the gap upfront (aroung $2500 for ICSI). So we just call up each pay week leading up to the cycle and pay around $500 till it is paid off.

With the larger amount you will need I can see the credit card option working well for you. Thank god for the safety net hey? We areally are lucky here is Australia - even though I know it is a bit of a pain coming up with the inital payment - once you have reached your threshold it isn't so bad...

I wish you every ounce of luck with your ICSI PGD journey.... I'l be cheering for you when the time comes hun.

Rach xx

[Muppity]

Good question AS.



I just got that letter too and was really surprised seeing the one exactly a year before was about the up front rates going up by over 20%.

Muppity can I ask has SIVF Canberra clinic got the private health insurance cover now so the day treatment procedures can be billed direct to your PHI? A year ago when the new facility was build, the day procedures had to be paid up front ($1000+/$500+ for EPU and ET respectively) with little or no PHI coverage, as they hadn't been approved by any of the PHI at that time (which they didn't tell anyone about before the procedures).

BTW the letter does mention the cost will go up in November with the new Medicare rates announced then. The cynic in me wonders how much more they will aim to charge now with this new system...

Dusty - apparently the new rates in Nov will just reflect any increase in Medicare rates - so the out of pocket won't really change.

They have sorted out arrangements with almost all of the PHIs - except Medibank (which is of course who I am with!). It lists the ones that they now have arrangements with on their web site somewhere from memory - otherwise the girls at reception can tell you. HTH

[haleyscomet]

I am sorry you are struggling so much right now and I am praying you dont have to worry about needing IVF but if in the event you do I would definately look at private health cover. I am with HCF and I joined them specifically because of my fertility issues as they have EXCELLENT coverage for this sort of thing. Since we couldnt afford for us both to get top coverage, I have the coverage and will change to a family coverage 2 months prior to birth (when we do get pregnant). Its something to think about and it takes to stress of the financial cost of it all. We did this because a close friend of ours went the IVF route and unfortunately it did not work for them and they used their entire house deposit. Its really through their experience we were able to jump ahead and plan a little bit more. I wish you all the very very best

[Aimz]

Thanks for the advice HC. I have private health cover (Medibank Private) but I'll look into HCF. Thanks!