The other option to people who qualify is their Success Refund Program. We qualified for this (based on age, blood work, antral follicle count, and semen analysis. For this program you pay $20,000 (yes, we liquidated our savings and took out a loan to cover the cost) and you get 4 guaranteed fresh IVF cycles and all the frozens that you may have paid for. If you don't take a baby home by the end of that, then they refund the entire $20,000. So basically you either have a baby for $20,000 or you get your money back. The only thing that we have to pay for is medications, $550 for the anesthesia fee, and egg storage (which is like $30/month and its prorated. So, this is the program that we are doing. The break even point for cost is at 2 fresh cycles and one frozen. I would be totally fine not making it to that point, but it is so nice to have the assurance. CJ and I talked about what we would do if we made it to the end without a baby and we decided that we would immediately put that money towards adoption.
It was definitely a tough decision paying per cycle or going with the Success Refund Program, but it's the guarantee that really sold us. It's kinda crazy how much money that it though. Now, we are just being super cautious with spending money since every month we have to cover our loan payment as well as medications on top of our usual expenses. It was an interesting experience writing out the checks for the program on Monday. Afterwards, we were both in a daze and just went home drank some hot chocolate and cuddled on the couch. Each day has gotten better though and now we're just so excited to be starting stims. I feel like I've been posting more because I didn't tell a lot of people in real life about IVF and I just need to get it out on here. As always, thank you so much for listening and commenting!
Blogging is such a wonderful outlet to share how we are really feeling. It's hard to share all of those emotions in real life because we feel like we always have to be guarded. Those walls are essentially non-existent on here as we can all relate to each other.
ReplyDeleteExcited to hear that your starting soon and wishing you all the best! We start stims on the 27th, so we'll be right there with you!
Thank you for sharing what arrangement you ended up with. We would also do a refund program (assuming we qualify). I know what you mean about being okay with not breaking even, that said it is really nice to have some level of guarantee. You will be in my thoughts this cycle!
ReplyDeleteHey there, I'm almost on the same IVF schedule as you -- I think just a few weeks behind (our ER will be the week of 2/20). Just wanted to send my words of support to you. It must be so hard not sharing this news with everyone. I've just been telling pretty much everyone because I can't hold it in any longer. :) Best of luck to you, and I'll be following!
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