Understanding Fertility Treatment Costs

Insurance coverage varies widely, even within the same insurance company. Some plans cover diagnostic testing only, some cover IUI or IVF but not medications, and some require certain criteria to be met before benefits apply.

Your Illume Financial Coordinator will carefully review your plan details and translate the insurance language in plain terms, so you know what is and isn’t covered before you begin.

Want to get a head start? Here's how to check your fertility benefits without spending hours on the phone:

Review Your Policy

• Look for the fertility or reproductive endocrinology section in your Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
• Search the terms: “Assisted Reproductive Technology,” “Infertility Treatment,” and “Injectable Medications.”
• Note whether your plan requires prior authorization, documented infertility diagnosis, or treatment at a designated “Center of Excellence.”

Tap Into Employer Benefits 

• Ask your employer’s HR team if fertility coverage riders or carve-out benefits (e.g., Progyny, Carrot, Maven) are available.

For more tips on maximizing your insurance coverage for fertility treatment, check out this guide!

Contrary to popular belief, fertility treatment is rarely one-and-done. The number of cycles you'll need to achieve your goals depends on maternal age, fertility diagnosis, and treatment approach.

A few things to note:

• Many people try 2–3 IUI cycles before moving on to IVF, depending on age, diagnosis, and insurance requirements.
• Some patients achieve pregnancy in one IVF cycle, while others benefit from more than one cycle. IVF success is cumulative, meaning the chances of a healthy pregnancy typically increase with each subsequent cycle. Each cycle gives us valuable data we can use to increase your chances of success.
• Egg freezing cycles are typically planned based on your family-building goals (i.e. how many children you would like to have in the future).

Understanding your likelihood of success per cycle can help reduce emotional pressure and improve planning. Your Illume physician will review expected outcomes based on your testing results and provide evidence-based guidance.

While assisted reproductive technology is remarkable, it’s no secret that it can also be expensive. The cost of procedures, testing, and medication can quickly add up and make your goals feel out of reach.

If you're uninsured or your insurance plan doesn’t cover fertility treatment, we encourage you to explore the many grants, financing options, and other financial assistance programs to help you afford the care you need.

Think of it as a step-by-step journey:

1. Complete diagnostic testing and get an itemized estimate. This will show exactly what your plan may include and where costs come from.
2. Reduce medication costs: Download our Medication Savings Checklist and confirm your eligibility for available manufacturer discounts.
3. Use tax-advantaged funds: If available, fund an HSA or FSA and use those dollars for eligible expenses. Always consult a qualified tax professional before using HSA or FSA funds as the rules can be difficult to interpret.
4. Consider self-pay bundles to reduce the cost of fertility treatment.
5. Explore financing: Many patients combine savings with a fertility-specific loan to spread out costs over time.
6. Apply for grants: Our Grants & Aid page lists reputable programs and what they typically require.
7. Phase your journey: Some patients begin with diagnostics or egg freezing now and plan the next step later when it fits their timeline and budget.

Learn more about paying for IVF without insurance here.

Yes - for patients without coverage or for services not covered by insurance, we offer a full range of self-pay plans. By offering special packages and bundled services, we strive to make fertility treatment more accessible to all hopeful parents seeking care. 

All of our self-pay plans detail transparent inclusions and exclusions for each service bundle and provide itemized estimates for procedures, monitoring, and lab work.

Illume Fertility Self-Pay Plans

Our bundled, customized plans for fertility testing and treatment include:

• Diagnostic testing
• Egg freezing
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Donor egg
• Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
• Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• Gestational surrogacy

If you are interested in exploring any of Illume's self-pay plans, please speak with your Financial Coordinator. 

When you become an Illume Fertility patient, you will be assigned a Financial Coordinator, who will review all of your options with you, including financing through our loan partners. These lenders offer treatment-specific loans designed to accommodate the needs of fertility patients.

We are proud to partner with companies like Sunfish who help patients gain access to care, offering all-inclusive IVF treatment packages for a fixed price, combined with refunds for eligible patients, unlimited transfers, ongoing guidance, and discounts on medication.

We also work closely with other financing partners like Future Family. Learn more here.

Don't Borrow Unnecessarily

Before you take out a loan, take some time to research the many wonderful organizations that offer grants, scholarships, and discounted services to individuals or couples who cannot afford fertility treatment on their own. You may be surprised by what you qualify for!

Learn more here.

As soon as your Illume physician confirms your expected treatment plan, your Financial Coordinator will provide a detailed, personalized cost estimate to ensure you feel confident moving forward.

The final amount you pay depends heavily on your clinical plan, your insurance benefits, and your medication needs, which is why it's difficult to provide exact pricing upfront.

Medications are typically billed by a specialty pharmacy and are separate from other cycle fees. Your prescriptions will be based on your physician’s protocol and may need to be adjusted during monitoring.

If you have an insurance plan with prescription coverage, you may only be responsible for your deductible and copay. Your Illume Financial Coordinator will confirm all plan details before your cycle begins.

Small, strategic choices can make a meaningful difference. Here are some cost-saving ideas that won't compromise your safety or success:

1. Complete all diagnostic testing before your annual deductible resets.
2. Use manufacturer savings programs to save on medication if eligible.
3. When clinically appropriate, consider mild-stimulation IUI before jumping straight to IVF (you will discuss all options with your Illume Fertility physician).
4. Plan medication ordering in advance to avoid costly overnight shipping fees.

The key is targeting the right levers — not just “cutting costs” but spending where it matters (and saving where it doesn’t). We will help you understand exactly where those decision points are in your plan.

Before you begin treatment, your Financial Coordinator will verify if prior authorization is required and submit any needed clinical documentation. Your insurer makes the coverage decision.

If authorization is pending or denied:

• Ask your insurer for the reason code and what additional information is needed.
• We may be able to submit a targeted appeal with physician support, when appropriate.
• If timing threatens your cycle, your team will discuss options, which may include adjusting the start date or using a self-pay route while an appeal is processed.

Keep a record of all letters, case numbers, and the names of representatives you speak with. This will help speed up the appeals process and any claim corrections later.

In some cases, yes! Pre-tax dollars can make a noticeable difference when used strategically. Here are some ways you can maximize available benefits:

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Contribute up to the annual limit and use funds for eligible expenses, including many fertility services and medications.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Plan contributions during open enrollment and time eligible medical expenses within the plan year.
• Employer fertility programs: Some employers partner with fertility benefit vendors that help cover diagnostics, procedures, or medications. Ask your HR representative about eligibility and enrollment steps.

Keep itemized receipts and Explanation of Benefits statements. They are often required for reimbursement and for tax documentation.

Disclaimer: Always consult a certified tax professional first to ensure you understand all potential restrictions.