If you cannot afford IVF, which avenue is better to take?
You could look for outside resources that give around $10,000, but only a few couples get this help (less than 1%).
About 150 couples get grants, scholarships, or clinical trials yearly and are thrilled to beat the odds.
Or, you could use self-help programs that about 80% of couples can use for modest savings by unlocking little-known features.
Millions can use the tax code, refund programs, and supplemental insurance to lower the costs of having one or more IVF babies.
Outside-Help Programs
Many couples seek financial assistance for in vitro fertilization from outside sources, such as non-profit organizations and government agencies. This strategy is logical but fatally flawed: The demand for aid exceeds the supply.
IVF Grants
Fre IVF grants illustrate our point. The number of grant applicants exceeds the supply of government and non-profit-funded assistance, and the odds of success are below 1%.
Approximately 12% of the 66 million U.S. women of childbearing age struggle with infertility. You may compete with up to 8 million others for fewer than 200 awards.
Charitable Grants
Many charities offer IVF grants. However, the number of applicants exceeds the available donor-supported funding. Your odds of being the couple selected are minuscule.
We researched the prominent grant-making non-profits. This chart highlights the statistics they publish. As you can see, less than 150 couples receive an award averaging $10,000.
| Charity | Total Since Inception | Yearly Grants Estimate | Average Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chick Mission | 638 | 80 | $13,111 |
| The Jewish Fertility Foundation | 411 | 41 | $6,472 |
| Hope for Fertility Foundation | 197 | 22 | $6,213 |
| BabyQuest Foundation | 250 | 19 | $13,000 |
| Parental Hope | 105 | 10 | $8,571 |
| Tinina Q Cade Foundation | 170 | 9 | Unknown |
| BIVF Foundation | 8 | 8 | Unknown |
| Starfish Infertility Foundation | 43 | 5 | Unknown |
| Nest Egg Foundation | 27 | 3 | Unknown |
| Broken Brown Egg | 15 | 1 | Unknown |
We calculated two estimates using data supplied by each charity. Yearly grants equal the total awards divided by the years since the founding date. Average grants equal the total awarded divided by the number of grantees.
Government Grants
We found one government-backed IVF grant: the York State Infertility Reimbursement Program (IRP). However, they do not publish statistics on the number of patients helped.
Apply for the NYS IRP through your fertility clinic, which must be an approved provider. Qualifying patients must reside in New York, have insurance, be diagnosed with infertility, and have a household income below $200,000.
The program website states, “Funding for this project is contingent on the availability of state funds.” Even one of the most progressive state governments lacks the resources to help every infertile patient.
Scholarships
IVF scholarships also illustrate our point. The overwhelming demand for donated medical services exceeds the limited supply.
Several charities offer donated medical services instead of monetary awards and refer to this assistance as a scholarship. This chart illustrates the small number of couples helped by scholarships.
| Charity | Total Since Inception | Yearly Scholarship Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| INCIID | 420 | 12 |
| AGC Scholarship Foundation | Unknown | Unknown |
Clinical Trials
Free IVF clinical trials illustrate our point differently. Research grants provide much of the funding. However, the qualifying criteria are narrow, and you may have to travel a considerable distance to participate.
We researched clinical trials recruiting infertile patients using three online databases. Here are the gross worldwide results we found.
| Online Data Bank | Infertility Trials | IVF Trials |
|---|---|---|
| Find Me Cure | 615 | 185* |
| Center Watch | 605 | 184* |
| National Library of Medicine | 430 | 131 |
| Total | 1,650 | 500 |
*These totals are estimates as the site does not provide a specific filter
Five hundred clinical trials worldwide can serve a tiny fraction of couples struggling with infertility. Now, cut that number two more times.
- Reduce by two-thirds if you cannot travel outside the United States for treatment.
- Filter further for specific medical conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, human papillomavirus, etc.
Self-Help Programs
Fewer In Vitro Fertilization patients seek financial assistance from inside sources, even though they are readily available to millions, not hundreds. Several self-help avenues yield significant savings if you know the secrets to unlock their value.
The scrutiny of seemingly minor details can have an enormous impact.
Tax Code
The IRS sanctions three ways in which millions of IVF patients can help themselves financially. Each option contains a hidden gem you do not want to overlook.
FSA
Many IVF patients know that a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can save money on their taxes. But did you know that your employer must reimburse qualifying expenses immediately – even before making any contributions?
An FSA can work like IVF financing without a credit check. Your employer could advance up to $6,600 to pay for treatment, giving you up to fifty-two weeks to repay the amount using pre-tax payroll deductions.
Most patients with bad credit will not qualify for loans of this size. Although $6,600 does not cover the full treatment cost, it considerably lowers upfront costs.
HSA
A Health Savings Account (HSA) can help IVF patients save on taxes. Most people know they can use money already in the account. But did you know you can use future contributions?
You can use an HSA for past IVF expenses, provided you continue your High-deductible Health Plan. A family’s annual contribution limit of $8,550 becomes meaningless when you can use pre-tax money for years.
Deductions
Many patients deduct IVF expenses from their taxes after treatment if they itemize. But did you know that IRS rules incentivize consolidating all your treatment costs into one year?
If you complete all IVF cycles in one year, you’ll get more money back on your taxes. Plan treatment carefully to consolidate expenses and overcome two hurdles.
- Itemized deductions must exceed the standard deduction
- Deductible medical expenses begin counting above 7.5% of AGI
Refund Programs
IVF refund or shared-risk programs are another way millions of patients can help themselves financially. Many recognize the obvious: you get most of your money back if you fail to conceive.
But do you know about the two other hidden advantages?
IVF shared-risk programs include two features that may initially seem unappealing, but you can make them work in your favor.
- If accepted into the program, you can estimate that your success odds are 80% or higher, allowing you to make smart bets like buying supplemental insurance. See below.
- You must pay the full amount upfront before starting treatment, practically forcing you to consolidate expenses into one year, thus maximizing the amount you get back on your tax deductions. See above.
Supplemental Insurance
Millions of patients can buy supplemental health insurance before their next IVF to help themselves financially. Two policies yield significant payoffs for the intended outcome: mom’s maternity leave and the birth of a baby or two.
You must buy the supplemental coverage before your next embryo transfer. Once mom conceives, the opportunity is lost. Now is the time to act.
Short-term disability covers a mom’s maternity leave by replacing a portion of her income while she is unable to work. Three reasons trigger claims.
- Pregnancy disability leave before birth
- Recovery from labor and delivery
- Postpartum medical complications delay her work return
Hospital indemnity insurance covers the mother’s hospital stay for labor and delivery. It pays an additional daily benefit for each newborn requiring specialized care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Multiple embryo transfers are more likely to result in twin or triplet pregnancies, which in turn are more likely to deliver preterm, requiring an extended NICU stay.
