Hey everyone,
Lately, I’ve been finding myself constantly looking at my bank account, wondering how everyone is making ends meet. It feels like no matter how hard I work, I’m just barely getting by. The cost of living seems to keep skyrocketing, and it’s tough out there.
I’m curious to hear from you all - how are you managing your finances? Do you have any tips or strategies that have been particularly helpful? Let’s share and support each other in this challenging economic climate.
Going into debt without making much noise, 100%.
My insurance took care of the cost.
We have paid the full $65,000 cost for fertility treatments out of our own savings since my employer does not offer coverage. Thankfully, we have managed to spread the expenses over a few years without incurring any debt.
My spouse is employed by a technology company that provides progyny.
I consider myself lucky that my insurance covers the cost, but there is a limit of $20k for lifetime coverage. If I have to undergo another retrieval, I may have to consider changing jobs or taking out a loan.
We opted to have the procedure done in Brazil, due to my wife’s Brazilian roots, making communication easier as she speaks Portuguese. The total cost for the sperm purchase and IVF process came to $7500. The care we received was exceptionally luxurious and much better than what we have experienced in the U.S. We felt truly valued and supported by the medical staff in Brazil, unlike in the U.S. where we often felt ignored and dismissed despite the high costs.
CNY Fertility is the best.
Slowly accumulating 100% debt.
I had insurance that covered the cost.
We have paid the entire $65,000 out of our savings, as my employer does not provide coverage for fertility treatments, even though we have good health insurance. Fortunately, we have been able to spread out the treatments over a few years to afford them without taking on any debt.
My spouse is employed by a tech company that provides progyny benefits.
I’m grateful that my insurance covers it, but the lifetime max is only $20k. If I need another retrieval, I’ll have to consider changing jobs or taking out a loan.
My wife being Brazilian, we chose to do the IVF process in Brazil. The total cost including sperm procurement was $7500, $2000 of which went to sperm. The care we received was exceptional and felt more personal compared to the U.S. healthcare system.
The Fertility Center of Central New York.
We decided against waiting and are using 0% credit cards while in Mexico because my fertility benefits don’t cover enough cycles.
We ended up spending approximately $35k for all the testing, labs, appointments, ER, FET, etc. Luckily, we had savings and our parents contributed around $4k. We put around $8k on a new credit card with a 0%apr offer for 21 months, but plan to pay it off before the term ends. We had to get creative, but there are other loan options available. Your IVF clinic can guide you towards financial assistance. Dealing with insurance in the US is the worst.
In Norway, three rounds are free, while a private clinic charges $5000 per round. There is an option to pay $10000 for three rounds. They accept clients from overseas. Consider exploring this option. Medications are extra, costing around $1500-2000.
It is heartbreaking to witness these figures. Living in the Netherlands, we are fortunate to have comprehensive insurance coverage. The only additional cost is the “eigen risico,” a fixed annual amount that we pay out of pocket (for me, 385 euros). Besides that, we simply pay our insurance premiums and that’s it.
Our parents are generously providing the financial support for IVF in order to have grandchildren soon. We are very thankful for their help, especially since we have already spent around $3.5K for one egg retrieval with no transfer yet.