Stressed About Paying for Fertility Treatments? CFS Has Your Back!

In this month’s blog we sat down with Coastal Fertility’s Financial Counselor Erica Quattlebaum to give you more insight into one of the toughest aspects of fertility treatment… paying for it. These days, many insurances cover all or part of treatment but it’s still good to know your options and to also know CFS has your back!

What insurance does CFS take?
Coastal Fertility Specialists accepts most major insurance plans (State Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Tricare). However, just because CFS accepts your insurance does not mean your plan will have coverage for infertility – this is determined by the specific plan your employer chooses. We are not contracted with Medicare, Medicaid, or most Marketplace plans. The good news is that often patients without infertility coverage can still get coverage for their new patient visit and diagnostic testing (ultrasounds, lab work). CFS also offers no-charge Second Opinion Consultations. Some employers offer really great third-party infertility coverage (e.g. Progyny, Maven, Carrot, Kindbody). A few of these employers are Target, Kohl’s, Amazon, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Tractor Supply Company.

Will I get to meet with a financial consultant during my first visit?
As part of your new patient appointment, you will meet with your physician, your dedicated nurse coordinator who schedules and coordinates your treatment cycle as well as your dedicated financial counselor who will help you understand your insurance benefits, review estimated costs for testing and treatment, and educate you on payment options. Understanding insurance benefits can be quite challenging, which is why every patient has their own financial counselor as a point of contact to assist them throughout their journey at Coastal. Your financial counselor is here to help make the insurance and finance part of the process as seamless as possible for you.

How much is IVF?
The cost of IVF treatment varies depending on the type of IVF cycle recommended by your physician. You will be able to meet with a financial counselor during your new patient visit to review estimated treatment costs and payment / financing options.

How are fertility medications covered?
Medication can be one of the most expensive parts of treatment. The majority of fertility medications come from a specialty mail-order pharmacy that is specific to the patient’s insurance plan. To help make this cost more affordable, CFS works with pharmacies that offer patients cost-effective self-pay options. Additionally, there are two medication discount programs patients can apply for: Fertilitysavings.com (Mandell’s Pharmacy) and ReuniteRX.com (MDR Pharmacy). These two programs are income-based and there is no fee / charge to apply. You may also qualify to receive donated medications if your income is lower. You can download applications here.

What financing plans does CFS take?
While Coastal Fertility Specialists does not have any in-house payment plan options, we work with preferred lending companies (Synchrony, Lending Club Patient Solutions, and Patient Fi) that offer financing options. The option to finance treatment can often make this large expense more manageable. These companies offer low-interest, flexible financing programs for all types of fertility treatment (including medication costs).

Are there any guarantee plans such as shared risk and is that for cash pay only or for people with insurance as well?
Coastal Fertility Specialists is pleased to offer programs designed to give patients financial protection and peace of mind. One program is the Multi Cycle Discount Program, which may be beneficial if a patient will be doing more than one IVF cycle. There are plan options to do two or three egg retrieval cycles with unlimited embryo transfers at a reduced rate versus paying for one cycle at a time. CFS also offers Shared Risk Refund Programs that are application-based. Patients who meet certain medical / age criteria may be able to get a refund if their journey does not result in taking home a baby. Those who qualify may be eligible for up to a 50% refund (two egg retrieval cycle plan) or up to a 100% refund (three egg retrieval cycle plan).

If you have any other questions, you can visit the Affording Treatment page on our website. You can also speak to a new patient coordinator by calling 843-883-5800 or filling out our intake form online.