MIVF'ers..

[*las*]

I'm hearing talks of another price rise

Has anyone heard? And can anyone tell me if they know the new cost of a Full stim??

TIA

[Baby Bliss]

I saw your post and the result elsewhere, 3020 stim, 3505 an ICSI stim, up from 2000 and 2500ish. Bugger. I know we have it good only paying the non medicare element, but its thrown my budget into chaos. I guess we'll just have to have success this next cycle to beat it. No pressure or anything.

I would like to see what the out of pocket amount is, I think I will call them Monday and asked for the new schedule to be sent out.

[Visitor9]

Normally they up it at the end of the year and since it was just done a few months ago I wouldnt think it would be the case I rang for a price on a FET and they didnt have any of the new pricelists in October...but there is always a way and that fine clause at the bottom that states that MIVF has the right to change the pricing structure at any time
LOL they are still cheaper than the other mob!

[Baby Bliss]

I am so confused. I just called and was told $3360 for a stim with ICSI, but the out of pocket after safety net is 658.86 and I said but thats less than it is now? It is currently 732.32 and she said "oh that doesn't sound right', looked it up and said 'oh no, you are right, it IS less.' I said I didn't understand how that was the case but that I didn't much care if I was better off but its baffling. Can anyone else explain this to me?? The upfront has gone up by $833, but I am out of pocket post safety net, by $73.46 less??? The number is very similar though, to an out of pocket basic stim, so maybe she confused that with the ICSI out of pocket number and it remains the same. I am SO lost. I really need a hard copy of the new schedule I think.

[Lucia]

I just paid $1035 for a FET. It has gone up since last year but not by much.

[*las*]

FET will now apparently cost just over $1300. Price rises are confirmed and will change on 31st March....what a massive jump..again! My first Full Stim cost $1500 out of pocket and and FET was $475 (that was 3 years ago though!). Still...makes it harder and harder to find that money

[Lucia]

Are you serious????

That's a $300 jump! The last jump was only something like $40..............

[*las*]

Back in September 2006 - an FET jumped from $575 to $905, a Full stim went up about $700...it's not the first time they've done it

[dusty]

i presume MIVF is Melbourne not Monash as i think Monash had a price rise late last year. a stim at Monash is $4211 up front.
when i was with Sydney IVF Canberra last year they put their prices up by over $1000 although at first they sent out a letter saying they were going up by over $2400 which turned out to be slightly inaccurate although the day surgery costs went up and they don't have accreditation for private health insurance cover so it did end up costing about $2000 more.

i am really jaded about all the price increases as it is now such a big money making business, especially as they all know the Medicare safety net clicks in for most of us. and it becomes a huge cash flow problem for individuals and families upfront. my whinge for the day .

[Baby Bliss]

Yes, there is something slightly immoral about it all. I still want to know the out of pocket post safety net costs, because that was confusing. I think I need to call back this week to top up my account after the cancelled for the new cycle so will check again then. I am sure they will be inundated with calls, why not put it on the web or send it out to all patients at least!?

[Acacia]

I got the documents about the price rises at MIVF in the mail on Wednesday, with receipts/bill they sent me. I've left them at home today (I'm in Melb today), but I remember looking at them thinking "well at least the safety net will still kick in and cancel out much of the change". I don't remember seeing anything extraordinarily wrong about the safety net figures they quoted on the new price list, but I can't remember the specific figures. But I can say that the safety net figures didn't jump out at me as being less than they are now.

Sorry I'm not able to be more specific with the figures - But I'm happy to quote anything off the new price list document if anyone needs it next time I'm online

I do agree that the price hikes seem largely out of proportion with general inflation figures and CPI. Sounds rather clinical to put it that way, but isn't where they're meant to be taking their guide for price increases? Not just wacking an extra 20% overall for an ICSI stim for example? Harsh. I know other clinics (Monash in Melb and others most in other states) are pricier - maybe they've trying to catch up? I've thought being at MIVF was very fortunate from a financial point of view - less so now.

[Baby Bliss]

At the other end post safety net, we are actually better off than before. Interesting changes. But glad for that.