Hearing the words, “you can’t have children” or even “you’re only option is IVF” often hits hard and leaves you heartbroken. 1 in 8 couples goes through this heartbreak every day. While the advances in medicine are great and have brought success to many couples over the past 40+ years, it still leaves the question of at what cost are we willing to try to grow our families?
Fertility treatment is EXPENSIVE no matter how you look at it and fertility treatment coverage is often not available and even when it is, the coverage barely causes a dent in the bills you will receive. As of today, fertility coverage is mandated in (how many) states, but even that does not guarantee ample coverage. The average IVF cycle costs on average of $15,000 for a standard cycle. This does not even account for those individuals that require special medications and extra treatment for underlying issues.
So what does this mean for those couples that find themselves identifying as the 1 in 8? It means that on top of their heartbreak and devastation, they are now also left to figure out if they can financially move forward or how much they are willing to add to their debt to build their families. While there are many avenues to help pay for fertility treatment, it often comes at a greater cost. Between variable treatment costs, interest, and fees many couples are left with debt upwards of $100,000.
How can we help these couples to move past their financial burdens? One was is to advocate for better fertility coverage. This is a great long-term strategy that can impact many couples down the road with the cost of their fertility treatment. Reaching out to your state representatives is a great start to make sure the voices of the 1 in 8 are heard, but what can they do now? These changes take time and there are couples fighting for their families today.
We can help their financial burden today in a few ways. Many couples are looking to secondary income to help afford fertility treatment, so the next time you are looking to make a purchase consider shopping with someone who is raising funds for their treatment. It’s a great place to pick up your lucky socks or inspiring t-shirts for your own treatment, while also considering these shops when it comes time to buy birthday gifts. Another great way to help these couples is to donate to grant funds. There are a handful of grants currently available and that number is continuing to grow. These grants are offered to individuals or couples who have no fertility insurance coverage or who may have already exhausted their insurance coverage. One of our partners is The Stork Foundation for Infertility, an Illinois-based nonprofit that will be in its third year of grant cycles this year. We are proud to partner with them as we know this is a way for us to contribute towards the greater goal of helping the 1 in 8 build their families.
Many of us are familiar with the desire to grow our families and have the opportunity to watch our own children play and learn every day. For 1 in 8 couples, this desire is deep, but the obstacles can quickly overwhelm these couples and leave them feeling helpless, especially when it comes to financial challenges. Let’s get out there and help alleviate the financial burden of those who desperately want children of their own.