Since 2012 when the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) lifted the experimental label on egg freezing (also known as oocyte preservation), millions of women have sought more information about the procedure. In 2014 Facebook and Apple’s decision to cover the expenses of egg freezing treatment to their female employees led to a flurry of national headlines along with a renewed interest in egg freezing and the benefits of preserving a woman’s fertility. Despite the enormous potential that egg freezing offers to women who wish to pursue other endeavors without worrying about the so-called biological clock ticking louder and louder, one of the main hurdles continues to be cost.
Why Kara’s Parents Helped Her Afford Egg Freezing
In December a new online magazine, The Outline, wondered if women were getting financial assistance from their parents to help pay for egg freezing treatment. First, they spoke to Kara Egber, a Shady Grove Fertility patient currently living in Arlington, Virginia. Egber said that talking to her parents about helping wasn’t difficult at all. “They would love to be grandparents one day,” she said. “They were on board immediately, wanting to help ensure the continuation of our family bloodline.”
Michele Purcell, RN, MHA, director of Shady Grove Fertility’s Egg Freezing program said she, “estimates that a pretty large percentage of younger patients under 35 are receiving financial assistance from parents, who she refers to as ‘hopeful grandparents.’”
Financial Options to Afford Egg Freezing
As the largest fertility center in the country, Shady Grove Fertility has sought innovative ways to ease the financial burden of fertility treatment, including elective egg freezing. In 2013, just a year after the experimental label was lifted, we introduced the first-of-its-kind flat fee guarantee program that established a set number of recommended eggs to freeze based on a woman’s age and her current fertility.
The original program, Assure, evolved into our signature Assure20 and Assure30 financial options. For women under 37 years old, a flat fee of $12,500 provides for 20 mature eggs or 4 cycles, whichever comes first. If 20 eggs are retrieved after the first cycle or a patient withdraws from the program, she will be reimbursed $4,000. For women over 37 with a favorable ovarian reserve, $18,000 provides for 30 mature eggs or 5 egg freezing cycles, whichever comes first. If 30 eggs are retrieved after the first cycle or she withdraws from the program, the patient will receive $8,500 back. If she chooses to withdraw or achieves 30 eggs after the second cycle, she’ll receive $4,000 back.
A Guarantee Makes Affording Egg Freezing a Worthy Investment
In 2016, as we began to see patients return to thaw and use their frozen eggs to build their families, Shady Grove Fertility developed the country’s first money back guarantee program, the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program for Returning Egg Freezing Patients, which guarantees patients will go home with a baby or their Shared Risk money back—some restrictions apply.
Click to read Kara’s story or learn more about the several egg freezing financial options. If you would like to learn more about egg freezing or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-411-9292.
