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IUI Cost Saving Options
Cost of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) & Success Rates
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) costs are a function of the prices a couple must pay for each cycle, and the success rate: the expected number of cycles needed to get pregnant. And don’t forget your pregnancy generates additional costs, and an opportunity to get cash back on your expenditures using supplemental insurance.
IUI success rates vary greatly by age and are often a useful predictor of the number of cycles required before getting pregnant. The number of cycles needed helps determine what you might spend. Here are three ways to make IUI and pregnancy more affordable:
- With & Without Insurance - some plans cover portions of your treatments
- Pregnancy & Multiples - how to use supplemental maternity insurance to recoup costs, and get bonus payments for twins, triplets, etc.
- IRS Discounts - a solid estimate of what you might spend can reduce your expenses
Finding Insurance to Cover Infertility If investigating Intrauterine Insemination costs you may be at the beginning or the end of your infertility journey. There is just no way to tell how much spending might be required. Either way getting a 3rd party to pick up your medical expenses can have a huge impact as many couples just can't afford to pay for even the lower cost procedures. Explore your options at the beginning stages.
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IUI With and Without Insurance
Your spending on Intrauterine Insemination is determined first by whether you are undergoing treatments with or without insurance coverage. It is often a second line therapy, the next step taken if oral medications are not effective. Your treatment may be your only remaining expense, or just the beginning depending upon success of the procedure. The best way to keep your spending manageable is to have somebody else pay for it - your health insurance plan.
Most plans will not cover the expenses for any infertility treatment unless required by state law. Fifteen states have some form of mandate requiring coverage. If you are one of the lucky few, there may still be some holes.
Most plans will not cover the expenses for any infertility treatment unless required by state law. Fifteen states have some form of mandate requiring coverage. If you are one of the lucky few, there may still be some holes.
- Blood work - often covered if associated with an underlying medical condition.
- Fertility medications - may be covered with a co pay. Check your prescription drug plan. Many have co pays leaving patients with 50% of the bill.
- Donor sperm - often not covered even when subject to mandate
- Gender selection - usually considered an elective procedure that is not covered
IUI Success Rates and Multiple Pregnancy
Many women undergoing Intrauterine Insemination have a fair chance of conceiving. It is a relatively simple, low cost procedure compared to other infertility treatments. As the first option many couples explore, those with minor fertility challenges may stop at this step because they are able to conceive.
Success rates for IUI are difficult to determine as there are many variables to monitor, and only a handful of statistically valid trials have been tracked. Success rates range from 4% per IUI cycle without fertility drugs, to 20% per cycle for women under 40 taking fertility drugs. One study suggests that about 40% of women conceive after three cycles. Success rates drop off dramatically after the third cycle, so couples often consider moving on to IVF at this point.
Looking at these numbers suggest that most couples will have to pay for at least three IUI cycles before either getting pregnant or moving on to more expensive options. If your cost per cycle is $2,000, you might sink $6,000 into the three procedures. Your total spending can only be projected.
Supplemental maternity insurance is a smart bet for couples expecting a high success rate. If your fertility doctor suggests your odds are high, your chances also good that supplemental policies will return more to you in benefit than you pay in premium. If you are one of many couples without insurance covering your infertility treatments, then supplemental coverage is the next best thing.
Intrauterine Insemination is often associated with multiple pregnancies as the number of embryos is difficult to control. Multiple pregnancies are often delivered prematurely. Premature delivery carries a higher risk of complications for your babies who may require an extended stay in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). Supplemental maternity insurance will pay extra benefits for each child requiring specialized care in the hospital.
Success rates for IUI are difficult to determine as there are many variables to monitor, and only a handful of statistically valid trials have been tracked. Success rates range from 4% per IUI cycle without fertility drugs, to 20% per cycle for women under 40 taking fertility drugs. One study suggests that about 40% of women conceive after three cycles. Success rates drop off dramatically after the third cycle, so couples often consider moving on to IVF at this point.
Looking at these numbers suggest that most couples will have to pay for at least three IUI cycles before either getting pregnant or moving on to more expensive options. If your cost per cycle is $2,000, you might sink $6,000 into the three procedures. Your total spending can only be projected.
Supplemental maternity insurance is a smart bet for couples expecting a high success rate. If your fertility doctor suggests your odds are high, your chances also good that supplemental policies will return more to you in benefit than you pay in premium. If you are one of many couples without insurance covering your infertility treatments, then supplemental coverage is the next best thing.
Intrauterine Insemination is often associated with multiple pregnancies as the number of embryos is difficult to control. Multiple pregnancies are often delivered prematurely. Premature delivery carries a higher risk of complications for your babies who may require an extended stay in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). Supplemental maternity insurance will pay extra benefits for each child requiring specialized care in the hospital.
IRS Discounts for IUI
Intrauterine Insemination and other infertility costs are tax deductible. Two tax vehicles provide discounts on IUI and other infertility procedures, but have different advantages. A Flexible Spending Account works best when your total expenses are lower. There are first dollar tax savings, but limits on what you can contribute, and contributions are lost if not spent. If you get pregnant on your first cycle, you may not be able to spend everything in the account. Taking deductions on Schedule A does not yield any savings until your qualified expenditure surpasses 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income.
Being able to estimate your costs of getting pregnant using is crucial to determining which option works best for you. That is why understanding your success rate is a crucial planning tool. A couple undergoing a natural IUI cycle may spend only $200, while another on injectable medications with monitoring may spend $5,000-6,000. Remember there is the price you pay per cycle which can vary, along with the success rate, or number of cycles you need in order to conceive.
Being able to estimate your costs of getting pregnant using is crucial to determining which option works best for you. That is why understanding your success rate is a crucial planning tool. A couple undergoing a natural IUI cycle may spend only $200, while another on injectable medications with monitoring may spend $5,000-6,000. Remember there is the price you pay per cycle which can vary, along with the success rate, or number of cycles you need in order to conceive.
- Donor sperm - IUI requires pre washed sperm which costs more: about $150 per vial.
- Home kits - may be very inexpensive but may require many attempts
- Gender selection - cost vary by the type of procedure you elect. The most effective method is also the most expensive:
- Gradient - sperm is spun in a centrifuge to separate the x-bearing sperm from the y-bearing sperm. The average spend is about $3,000.
- Flow Symmetry - die is used to separate x and y bearing sperm.
- Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) - the most effective and expensive method, but not used with IUI as an embryo is examined.
- Fertility drugs -
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Clomid - $35 to $70 per cycle
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Follistim - $100 per vial and up to $1,400 per cycle
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