Paying for fertility preservation and storage

If you’re banking eggs, embryos, or sperm for future use, it’s important to consider the initial and ongoing expenses involved. Consultations to determine your fertility potential are usually done first. Fees to store frozen eggs, embryos, and sperm vary widely depending on type of facility, location, and the type of preservation you are pursuing.

Eggs and embryos

Fertility clinics often offer discounts or financing, so be sure to ask about your options. Some procedures and medications may be covered by insurance—call your provider to understand your benefits.

When you are ready to attempt pregnancy, your eggs or embryos will be thawed, and your eggs will be fertilized, before being transferred to the uterus. Because you’re using eggs or embryos that have been frozen, your costs at this time may be lower than a normal IVF cycle.

Sperm

To bank sperm, the service cost ranges from $500 to $1,000, with storage fees of $150 to $400 per year.

Most health insurance plans do not cover the cost of banking and storing frozen sperm. But if fertility preservation is done before cancer treatment or other medically necessary procedures, it may be covered. Grants from nonprofit organizations are also available to help you affordably preserve your fertility.

Financial help is available

Medication savings programs

Some fertility drug manufacturers offer savings programs to help make treatment more affordable. Many people can benefit, including:

• Military personnel and their spouses
• Patients with no insurance coverage

Your fertility clinic can answer questions about the types of drugs they’ll prescribe for treatment. Program information can usually be found on the drug manufacturer’s website.

If you’re eligible for medication savings, you may only be able to have prescriptions filled at certain pharmacies. Because the same medication can vary in price dramatically, it’s important to verify participating pharmacies before having medication filled.

Learn about programs that can help make several common fertility drugs more affordable here.

Clinic payment plans

Treatment clinics understand the financial hardships you are facing. Many offer affordable payment plans, have relationships with financing companies, and offer medication discounts.

Some clinics offer package pricing. These allow you to pay a discounted price upfront for a certain number of treatment cycles. You usually won’t receive money back if you’re successful on your first try, but some programs will offer a refund if you reach the end of your package without success.

Grants and scholarships

For people who need help paying for infertility treatment, grants and scholarships are available from nonprofit organizations. Eligibility requirements and application deadlines must be met.

FSA, HSA, and HRA accounts

Your employer may offer special accounts to help you save on medical costs. These include:

• Flexible spending arrangement (FSA)
  FSAs are arranged by your employer and can be used for certain out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including copays, deductibles, and some medications. You opt to have a certain amount withheld from your salary and placed in the FSA. No federal or employment taxes are deducted from your contribution to an FSA. Your employer may also contribute, but is not required to. As of 2020, you may only defer $2,750 to your account each year.
• Health savings account (HSA)
  An HSA is a tax-exempt account you establish to pay or reimburse for qualifying medical expenses. HSAs can only be used with a high deductible health plan. You, your employer, and/or family members can all contribute to an HAS. Account contributions for 2021 are capped at $3,600 for an individual, and $7,200 for a family. Funds in these accounts generally roll over each year.
• Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA)
  HRAs are funded by your employer only. Qualifying medical expenses and reimbursement limits are determined by your employer-provided insurance plan. There is no cap on the amount your employer can contribute to the HRA in a year. Money in these accounts may generally be rolled over each year.

The money you defer to these accounts isn’t taxable, making them great cost-saving tools for treatment expenses.