It is a heartbreaking reality: many people are unable to pursue the opportunity to grow their family because financial hurdles stand in the way between them and the reproductive medical treatments they need. The staggering cost of IVF can be a huge barrier to entry, making an already tough situation feel insurmountable. The cost of IVF is often the deciding factor preventing those who are struggling to grow their family from moving forward.
By the time folks in the midst of infertility have reached the point in treatment where IVF is their desired next step, it’s likely that they’re already spent a pretty penny on medical bills. With a single IVF cycle — from ovarian stimulation, to egg retrieval, to embryo transfer — ranging anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 on average, depending on the treatment center and the patient’s individual medication needs, the price tag is daunting at best and out of reach entirely for many.
While some companies are beginning to see fertility medicine as healthcare that should be covered by insurance benefits, most IVF patients find themselves having to pay for treatment entirely out of pocket. But let’s face it: most of us simply don’t have a cool 15 to 30 grand just lying around. And while there are many ways to help pay for IVF, one of the most sought-after solutions are certainly IVF grants.
What is an IVF grant?
Crowdfunding and loans may be the first paths to cross your mind when you consider ways to help pay for IVF, but IVF grants are a great solution for patients to consider. This is because, contrary to a loan that needs to be paid back, a grant is essentially a gift of the cost of certain fertility and reproductive services - think of it along the lines of being awarded a college scholarship. Patients can apply for the grant that best matches their needs, and the organization distributing the grant selects their recipients from the pool of applicants.
While an IVF grant is an incredible solution, it can also be a time-consuming one. Selecting which grants to apply for is a research-heavy process and one that you will want to bring careful consideration to. The guidelines for IVF grants will vary across organizations. Some will be specific to certain clinics, some may only be applied to certain fertility treatments, and each will have a separate list of criteria that must be met by grant applicants.
Grants will also have differing deadlines by which applicants must apply. Because of these shifting factors, it’s important to note that you will need to set aside some time – and possibly some spreadsheet skills – to prepare for the process of researching and applying for IVF grants that fit your specific needs.
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The Spring Together IVF Grant Program
An IVF grant would be a dream come true for many this holiday season. For 4 lucky patients, Spring Fertility wants to help make that dream a reality. Led by the belief that everyone who wants a family should have one, no matter their financial situation, Spring Fertility recently announced its Spring Together IVF Grant. The grant will make it possible for individuals who require financial assistance to receive fertility treatments at Spring Fertility for only $1,000 in total cost — medication and genetic testing included.
Applicants will be asked to complete a simple & confidential application, and a committee will confer and award treatment to 4 grant recipients: three in the Bay Area, and one in New York. These grants will be paid from the Spring Together Fund, a 501(c)(3) established to help advance maternal and reproductive health both domestically and abroad.
The Spring Together IVF Grant will include:
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IVF treatment & embryo cryopreservation
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Male and female lab workups, if the patient does not have primary insurance coverage
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1 year of storage
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Saline sonogram
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Semen analysis
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Genetic screening & counseling
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Up to 3 embryo transfers
To be eligible to apply for the grant, couples or individuals must meet the following parameters:
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Female patient must be ≤ 40 years old
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Resident of San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, SF County, Marin County) or New York resident
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Individual/Couple must have an annual household income at or below $118,320
All applications must be submitted no later than December 31, 2023. The selected grant recipients will be announced on January 15, 2024. For more information including eligibility requirements, interested applicants can visit their website at springfertility.com/grant to learn more.
If you don’t qualify for this grant, don't fear. There are additional resources to help those looking to apply for an IVF grant. Resolve, the National Infertility Association, offers a list of fertility treatment scholarships and grants available through a variety of nonprofit organizations, and it’s a great next step before delving into your research. Best of luck!
Lindsey Williams is a library worker and writer who lives in Arizona with her daughter, husband, and their dog, Peaches.