How To Pay for Fertility Costs

If you’ve read part 1 then you’ve hopefully gained more clarity on how to face the financial needs of your fertility journey. Now it’s time to get into some of the nitty gritty tips for how you can create the financial plan that’s right for your family. This just scratches the surface in terms of the possibilities but let’s jump in.

Tips to pay for fertility costs

Talk to your financial advisor.

• If you don’t have one, have a first call with a few until you find the right fit. Talk to family or friends who you trust and ask who they use. Try one through your bank.
• An advisor shouldn’t have any hidden fees but ask upfront.
• They should provide a lot of tips and advice specific to your needs.

Fertility specific financing options.

• Places like BundlFertility and Sunfish, across many parts of the US.

Check if you qualify for any government financial support.

• Every country, province and state is different.
• Many countries include one or more rounds of IVF or IUI. Some do not provide any and the ones that do have restrictions that vary.
• Check as local as you need to as to what costs could be covered such as testing, treatment and procedures. In Canada it varies by province. For example, you can have IUIs (unlimited) and one IVF cycle funded in Ontario if you’re under 43, but no procedures are covered provincially in British Columbia. There are some funds in Quebec, PEI, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
• Could you move to a province that has fertility coverage? Usually you need to have been living in the province for at least 3 months to be eligible for provincial government coverage.
• If you travel for infertility treatment, check to see if there’s any coverage for travel and other reimbursement that you’re eligible for.
  • For example, in Canada travel, meals and accommodation while you’re there for treatment are included for federal medical expenses at tax time if you’re eligible. Also, check with your local area for discounts. For example, if you’re travelling from Vancouver island to Vancouver for treatment, fill out a government form ahead of time and you don’t need to pay for the ferry. Or, if you’re travelling from Northern Ontario, there’s this grant you may be eligible for. There are also reimbursement options for surrogacy and donor options federally in Canada. Keep track of medication receipts regardless because anywhere in Canada, anything over $3000 per year can be claimed federally at tax time too. What you get back depends on your household income. Take photos of receipts and keep them in a folder for easy access, or decide on a system that’s right for you.
  • Also check for medication covered by the provincial governments in Ontario or British Columbia here: It should state whether the test or medication is insured by OHIP or MSP not.

Create or revaluate your family budget.

• Get detailed and start there to assess what’s possible and what’s not at least as a starting off point.
• Talk to your fertility clinic if you are doing treatment and get the estimated cost so you can compare it to your current budget.
• A financial advisor should provide guidance on your budget. A budget is something to do at any time and can feel really satisfying to complete if you haven’t before, but might also bring up other emotions whether you have one already or not. It can take time to adjust to the change that might be needed to finance your fertility costs. Support is key every step of the way.
• There are options to DIY and manage your personal finances too.

Call yours and your partner’s employee benefits or insurance provider.

• You’ve probably thought of this too, but if you have extended benefits or insurance at your work or your partner’s, it helps. Even if it’s just a little. Check for health insurance for fertility treatment and medication coverage. Some have a place online to search DIN for your medication to check if it’s covered, which you can get from your clinic, but always call your provider if you’re uncertain. Every benefits policy or plan is different. Some cover medication only, other procedures only or both. Some plans cover nothing. It’s not based on the insurance company, it’s based on the plan. For example two different plans with Canada Life Insurance Co and one has zero and the other 80%.  Some companies cover IUI and/ or IVF like for many Starbucks and Amazon employees.
• If you don’t have coverage or if it’s low, then consider lobbying with others in your company to add fertility coverage to their insurance or employee benefits plan. This means you’d need to open up to others about your fertility journey, which comes with other considerations of privacy and other boundaries you might have already set for yourself.
• Always double-check and review your claims if or when you do submit to your provider. They get fertility wrong. Advocate for yourself!

Consider changing jobs.

• Is it time to find a higher paying job? A less stressful job? A job with more flexibility? Perhaps find a job with fertility coverage? A new job you can work from home or is closer to home?
• If you need to limit change in order to cope, you have every right to stay put. I also recognize that this isn’t a simple task for a lot of us, but major changes like this are worth it if it’s working toward a dream that’s even more important.
• Consider asking for that promotion or increase your fees if you work for yourself. It might be obvious, but take a moment to self reflect. What’s stopping you? If low confidence is getting in the way, consider being coached on your confidence. If a promotion would come with added stress, it’s understandable if this is not the right option for you right now.
• Apply for an additional part-time or causal job like as an Uber driver or a bookkeeper. Starbucks employees often get fertility treatment coverage, depending on where you live, even if you just work part time. Telus, Google, Amazon, Twitter, TD, Pinterest, Kellogs,

Talk to a career coach or councillor.

• A career coach can support you on all your career decisions. They have knowledge about opportunities you probably haven’t thought of. That’s what they’re known for.
• Look to see if your company has a career coach or counsellor included under your employee benefits or employee assistance program. When you do explore this, try a few coaches until you find the right fit. Many have an initial free discovery call. I recommend choosing one accredited with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I’ve got a couple I can recommend in Canada and the US.

Start a side hustle

Check out this article for ways to make money in 2024 online.

Check with your fertility clinic & local pharmacies.

• Check if your fertility clinic or provider
  • can dispense medication as you go instead of them estimating how many of each meds you’ll need for the entire cycle or period of time.
  • can give the DIN if they do dispense the medication themselves and your insurer needs it.
  • has a financing program. Some clinics have an arrangement and the lending rates can be lower than traditional bank loans.
  • if there are opportunities in your treatment plan to use orphan medication as much as possible, which is medication that is typically used for a specific purpose but works for some infertility treatment protocols. This makes sense if it is less expensive or covered under insurance or other plan because of its original intended use. For example, some types of estrogen pills were manufactured for menopause treatment and because of that common use, it’s more widely available and often cheaper.
  • if they have options for payment plans that aren’t advertised. Some clinics can accommodate if you just ask. Who knew?! I’ve heard it many times. Some will provide discounts if you’ve already paid for previous treatment that failed.
  • if your clinic has a giving program where other patients donate unused and unopen medication back to their pharmacy and gift it to other patients.
• Shop around for cheaper medication options at other local pharmacies. e.g. Costco or Glen Shields in Ontario.
• Purchase online IVF meds, like IVFSmart.com, but with obvious risks.
• Ask for compassionate options at any pharmacy. Some provider offer lower costs depending on your income.
• Some people fly down to Mexico and find lower cost options at pharmacies like Fertifarma that even cut down the price with the airfare.
• Shop around for different treatment options in different clinics. Consider even going out of country. There are many popular clinics abroad including in Europe, Mexico and Turkey. Perhaps you’re from another country that provides the treatment at a cheaper cost or have family there you can stay with? Of course consider quality care in this decision making and direct and indirect travel costs too.
• In Canada many clinics have partnered with PayBright and on their website go through the menu to medical procedure and enter your clinic’s name and see if they are partnered with them. You can often do 6 months interest free.

Look to your bank or mortgage broker.

• Get a loan from a bank. This is probably an obvious one and is the most common way to finance major costs.
• Take out a line of credit and pay it off with a credit card to get the points.
• Remortgage your home, if that’s an option. Talk to your mortgage broker. Would adding another 5 years on your mortgage be worth it? Is it worth the penalty? Get a home equity line of credit?

Consider gifting options.

• If you haven’t gotten married but plan to, ask for cash to pay for fertility costs as a wedding gift.
• If you’re single, ask for cash as a ‘getting married to yourself gift’ because you deserve a celebration too!
• Ask parents, grandparents, other family and/or friends to gift funds toward your fertility costs.
  • Could you ask for donations of credit card points instead? Could it be a loan? Could you ask a lot of people for a small amount? Ask for early inheritance?

• Crowdsource the funds.
  • For example, create a Go Fund Me page.
  • Crowdfunding can include posting anywhere: places of worship, chamber of commerce, yoga / gyms you frequent, parent sites or groups, seniors legacy gifts, work, or anywhere that people know you. A lot of people would be thrilled to be a part of your fertility journey in this way.
  • This is a trend called IVF Puzzle Fundraise. Everyone donates a set amount per puzzle piece and get their name on said piece(s) of the puzzle that – hopefully – will be put together for when the baby arrives see all fit together with all their supporters named.
• These option of course impact who you disclose your fertility journey to, so is something to not take lightly depending where you are on your fertility journey.

Look into prize draws for treatment in your country and abroad.

• For treatment, check to see if you’re eligible for prize draws for fertility treatment like IVF Babble (international), Fertility Friends Foundation (Ontario), Gift of Parenthood (US and Canada), Family Fertility Fund in Saskatchewan.
• Fertility IQ has a great list here and Stardust Fertility Jewish Foundation and Worth the Wait in the US.
• Go over to my Instagram page to stay updated on options if you’d like.

Check out these money-saving personal finance tips.

• Downsize to a smaller home, move in with family for a while or join a co-op.
• Appeal your property tax assessment.
• Swap clothes with a few friends the same size as you – they’re new clothes to you!
• Sell your car (if applicable) and walk, bike, transit and taxi around or
• Use a ride share or share your car with others.
• Share streaming and audio account and cell phone bundles with family or friends.
• Limit coffee/drinks and dining out. Bake and cook more and eat out only on special occasions.
• Switch to primarily second hand clothes.
• Sell major items.
• Join Buy Nothing groups.
• Mutually agree only cards or homemade gifts with close friends and family for the next few years.

I hope it rains money on you so that you have an opportunity to expand your family in the way you choose to. Book a call if you need more support. This doesn’t have to sit just on your shoulders.