Cut Lupron Costs - 3 Unique Strategies

Lupron acts by suppressing ovulation. Before suppression occurs, Lupron will briefly provide stimulation. Suppression is used for frozen embryo transfer, and egg donation cycles. Stimulation may be used at the beginning of an IVF cycle.  

Leuprolide (Lupron) costs are often just the tip of the iceberg for couples trying to conceive. Along with taking Lupron, you may be taking other fertility drugs, and undergoing other infertility treatments. You may be concerned about expenses because your health plan does not cover Lupron, other fertility drugs, or the much bigger costs for IVF.  

On this page you will find: 

The average price of a Lupron ranges from $500 for a 4mg dose to $2,000 for bigger quantities. Your total costs will depend on dosage and number of cycles needed before you conceive.

Also consider that Lupron may not be the only costs you incur. You may be taking other fertility drugs, or taking Lupron in conjunction with other infertility treatments - all of which you may need to pay out-of-pocket. Your expenses might be quite high if you are considering self-paying IVF.

Before starting any artificial reproductive technique, make sure you have investigated the in and outs of infertility health insurance options. Odds are, your Lupron costs may be only a fraction of what you have to pay out of pocket. Know how the rules work.

Your Lupron and other infertility costs are tax deductible. You can use your employer's Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or take deductions on Schedule A to generate tax savings that can cut your expenses by up to 1/3 or more.  At the same time you can get an interest free loan from your employer.

The two approaches have differing pros and cons which are summarized here.  Details can be found on our infertility and IVF deductions page.

An FSA provides first dollar tax savings, can generate an interest free loan from your employer, and allows you to also lower FICA taxes.  The amount saved on FICA is variable as Congress recently lowered the amount paid in payroll taxes - temporarily.

Schedule A deductions are limited to those above 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).  If your AGI is $100,000 you would need to have $7,500 in un-reimbursed expenses before seeing any savings.  Couples undergoing IVF often reach this level quite easily.  

It pays to think beyond just your Lupron costs alone.  You may have other infertility treatment expenses as well.  And we hope you get pregnant too!

Your pregnancy will present a new set of financial challenges: like lost maternity leave income.  Buy supplemental insurance before taking Lupron.  Your benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium you pay.  Use the surplus as maternity income, or to offset Lupron and other infertility treatment expenses.

Plus, you will gain extra security in case of complications, premature birth, accidents, and illnesses.