The soaring healthcare costs in the U.S. have led to a growing trend among women seeking affordable fertility treatments, such as egg freezing and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), overseas.
The Driving Factors
In the aftermath of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of women choosing to freeze their eggs. However, prohibitive costs and inadequate insurance coverage have made fertility treatments inaccessible to many.
Fertility Treatment Costs: A Closer Look
According to Freeze Health, one egg-freezing cycle in the U.S. can exceed $22,000, with an added annual egg storage fee of $200 to $1,350. IVF treatments can range from $10,000 to $15,000 excluding medication costs, as per the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. These prices can quickly accumulate, particularly when they are not covered by insurance.
In 2022, only 43% of large employers offered health plans covering IVF treatment, and a mere 16% provided coverage for elective egg freezing. Among large employers, 54% offered IVF coverage and 24% offered egg-freezing coverage. Medicaid coverage for fertility treatments is mandated only in New York, making these treatments inaccessible for many low-income individuals.
Affordable Fertility Treatments Abroad
However, the prospect of obtaining these treatments at a fraction of the cost overseas is appealing to many. In Colombia, American patients can expect to pay around $3,000 for an egg-freezing cycle, with additional medication costs of $1,000 to $1,500, says Ana Medina of Inser, a leading fertility clinic in Colombia. In Greece, New Life IVF offers an egg-freezing package for roughly $2,457. In Mexico, a single IVF cycle costs about $5,800, excluding medication. Barbados Fertility Center charges approximately $6,500 for one round of IVF treatment.
Increased Demand and Implications
Fertility clinics worldwide report a significant increase in the number of American patients. Some patients are also seeking fertility treatments abroad due to concerns about potential restrictions on their control over their embryos, following the recent changes in U.S. abortion laws.
Challenges and Considerations
However, overseas fertility treatments remain financially prohibitive for many lower and middle-income Americans. For those who can afford it, navigating different countries’ treatment restrictions can be challenging, as can the decision whether to store their eggs in the treatment country or ship them back to the U.S., which carries its own risks.
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