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Fertility Blog by Illume Fertility

Everything you need to know about reproductive health, fertility testing, fertility treatment (like IUI and IVF) and how to navigate fertility challenges.

Infertility Coverage | IVF | IUI | Affording Treatment

By: Sierra Dehmler
November 18th, 2021

If you need to pursue fertility treatment, your next question is likely “How in the world am I going to pay for this?” Hopefully, your answer is your insurance provider! The first step is to figure out if your insurance policy includes fertility coverage and will help pay for the infertility treatments, tests, or other procedures your doctor may recommend. Learn how to explore your plan's coverage and get the most out of your insurance with our detailed guide below.

PCOS | IVF | Advocacy | Affording Treatment

By: Sierra Dehmler
October 1st, 2021

All families should have access to fertility care, but unfortunately, many still end up paying out of pocket or delaying treatment (sometimes indefinitely) due to the overwhelming financial burden.

Ovulation | Fertility Treatment | IVF | IUI | Affording Treatment

By: Mark Leondires, MD
May 13th, 2021

For the 1 out of 8 couples struggling with family building, the costs associated with fertility treatments can be staggering. However, if you live in one of the nineteen states that mandate fertility coverage, the costs can become much more manageable. Even if you live in a state that doesn’t provide extended coverage, many insurance policies will cover some testing or medications if you have met your annual deductible. If you’re paying out-of-pocket, it’s important to understand the investment you might have to make in order to complete your treatment and the many grants, scholarships, and loans that are available to you. When pursuing fertility assistance, it is very difficult to pinpoint a precise cost for your particular treatment until you and your partner, if applicable, have both undergone a complete assessment. This includes confirmation of ovulation, a sperm analysis, and an examination of reproductive organs. At that point, your fertility specialist, or Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI), can determine a treatment path according to your diagnosis, narrowing the scope of your estimated costs. Let's break down some of the most common infertility treatments, and talk about the average associated costs of each.

Affording Treatment

By: Lisa Rosenthal
July 8th, 2020

1 in 8 couples will face infertility, a medical condition affecting reproductive and hormonal systems. Although acknowledged by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a medical disease, many insurers specifically exclude or limit coverage for this treatable condition. In fact, there are 16 states in the US that have had to legislate insurance mandates (bills or laws) that require varying levels of health coverage. Even when a person challenged with infertility has coverage, oftentimes, it has limitations on usage, restrictions on what types of fertility treatment cycles are covered, and other reasons why a person might be responsible for out of pocket expenses for necessary medical treatment.

Infertility Coverage | Advocacy | Affording Treatment

By: Lisa Rosenthal
January 22nd, 2020

There are fertility warriors that walk amongst us. In fact, the list gets longer and longer each day. There are also fertility heroes too... a slightly different breed.

Fertility Treatment | Our Doctors | TTC | Advocacy | Affording Treatment

By: Illume Fertility Care Team
December 5th, 2018

One infertility patient shares her story about insurance, the open enrollment time period, and being her own advocate. A story of success, hope and empowerment.

Male Infertility | Support | Infertility Coverage | Fertility Treatment | IVF | Men's Health | Advocacy | Affording Treatment

By: Lisa Rosenthal
November 11th, 2018

In honor of Veterans Day, we asked Tyler and Crystal Wilson, who have worked tirelessly for necessary medical coverage for “wounded warriors” (military personnel injured in active service who have been denied fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization), to use their voice as a shining example of how advocacy works. The Wilsons know, from their own personal experience, the pain and frustration of having injuries that make it impossible to have children without medical treatment due to active military service. Thank you, Tyler, both for your service to our country and to your fellow service people, regarding building a family after a debilitating injury.

Infertility | Fertility | Support | Infertility Coverage | Fertility Treatment | IVF | TTC | Affording Treatment

One of the hardest decisions Dan and I faced during fertility treatment was making the transition from IUI (intrauterine insemination) to IVF (in vitro fertilization). I remember after failing our third round of IUI treatment (yes, I know, the politically correct way of putting this is, “after my third failed cycle”, but let’s face it, it felt like a personal failure when there was no positive pregnancy test!), my husband and I came face to face with a decision making moment: to pursue another round of IUI or bust out the big guns, moving ahead with IVF. There was a lot of time discussing this potentially life changing decision. We made tons of pros and cons lists because we wanted to ensure we were choosing the best option for the two of us and our situation. We considered lots of factors, but two kept rising to the top of importance: financial cost and our emotional sanity.