The answer to this question depends on the type of insurance that you have. Some insurance companies may provide coverage for egg freezing, while others may not. It is important to check with your insurance provider about what types of fertility treatments and procedures are covered in order to determine if egg freezing is one of them. Many providers offer optional add-on plans or riders which can provide coverage for egg freezing services if it isn’t included in a standard plan.
Contents:
What is Freezing Eggs?
Freezing eggs, also referred to as cryopreservation, is a modern fertility preservation technique which helps women preserve their fertility by freezing their unfertilized eggs. This process allows them to store and preserve their reproductive potential for many years with no damage or risk of deterioration. The idea behind egg freezing is that an individual can save her eggs at the time of harvesting before undergoing any medical procedure that could potentially decrease the woman’s future fertility. This includes infertility treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy as well as lifestyle choices like waiting to become pregnant until later in life or traveling away from home during prolonged periods of time.
The procedure itself requires taking medications over a period of several weeks to stimulate the ovaries and create multiple mature egg follicles ready for harvesting. The woman then undergoes anesthesia so an ultrasound guided needle can be used to gently retrieve the eggs from each follicle under transvaginal imaging guidance. Once retrieved, the eggs are frozen in liquid nitrogen at very low temperatures. Once in storage, they may remain viable for an unlimited amount of time without needing special care; this makes it possible for women to access their stored eggs when they want or need them without worrying about losing their potential future pregnancies due to age-related decline in egg quality.
Importantly, however, most health insurance plans do not cover egg freezing due to its elective nature – meaning it does not necessarily have anything medically wrong with you that requires treatment– nor will it result in a diagnosis or cure any condition that you may have already been diagnosed with previously. Ultimately, this means patients must finance the costs associated with freezing their own eggs out-of-pocket if they choose this route towards preserving future pregnancy options should they decide against having children now.
Types of Insurance Policies and Coverage
One of the most important questions when considering freezing eggs is whether your insurance policy covers it. Every insurance plan is different and can vary greatly depending on where you live, so understanding the basics of coverage related to egg-freezing may be beneficial. Generally speaking, health insurance policies cover fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), but they don’t necessarily cover egg freezing. However, there are a few exceptions that you should be aware of.
For instance, some private insurers offer coverage for cryopreservation of eggs under certain circumstances. For example, if your employer offers group health insurance plans through large insurers like Aetna or Anthem Blue Cross, you may have access to partial coverage for elective egg freezing procedures – like if you intend to freeze eggs solely for reasons unrelated to medical issues. If your egg preservation procedure is considered medically necessary by a doctor or other healthcare provider due to potential risks with subsequent pregnancies (such as age-related infertility), your insurer may provide full or partial reimbursement for expenses related to the process.
Some states require health insurers include fertility treatment options in their policies; California and New York both recently passed laws requiring insurers cover cryopreservation services like egg-freezing and sperm banking with no age restrictions or exclusions for individuals seeking these treatments – though such legislation does not guarantee complete coverage as each company will have its own criteria related to reimbursements.
Who Covers Egg Freezing?
In many countries, egg freezing is not an established medical practice. As a result, there are many questions about which party is responsible for covering the cost of this procedure. Depending on where you live, different rules and regulations may apply when it comes to financing egg freezing services.
In some areas, insurance companies may cover part or all of the costs associated with this fertility procedure. For example, in California and New York City, certain insurance providers must offer coverage under specific conditions; while in Massachusetts only certain insurers will pay for these services. Some employers have also started covering elective egg freezing as part of their employee benefits packages in recent years; however this is still not very common yet.
Another way to finance your eggs freezing cycle is through patient assistance programs offered by fertility clinics themselves or third parties such as Frozen Egg Bank Network (FEBN). Through these assistance programs you can access discounts that may allow you to save up to $7000 – often enough to cover the entire fee associated with one cycle of egg freezing. When researching payment options for your treatment make sure to ask about special deals or promotional offers at your local clinic.
Costs Associated with Egg Freezing
When making the decision to freeze eggs, there are numerous costs associated with the process which should be considered. Patients will often incur both out-of-pocket costs and insurance premium changes. Out of pocket costs can include initial consultation fees, freezing storage fees, hormone injections and drug prescriptions if needed. The actual egg retrieval procedure is not usually an additional cost because it is usually performed in a doctor’s office or outpatient setting.
In terms of insurance coverage, this varies widely depending on individual policies and state regulations regarding fertility treatments. Some insurers offer full coverage while others may partially cover some services such as hormonal stimulation or diagnostics related to egg retrieval, but do not necessarily cover the entire procedure. It’s also important for patients to be aware of any exclusions that may apply on their policy before committing to the procedure financially.
Cost aside, it’s crucial for those considering egg freezing to consider their personal goals when evaluating the decision from a medical standpoint–as well as all associated factors including emotional readiness and risk tolerance – in order to make informed decisions regarding their reproductive future.
Benefits of Using Insurance to Cover Cost
While egg freezing is becoming increasingly popular and gaining greater acceptance, the process remains expensive. For those looking to freeze their eggs, utilizing insurance can provide financial relief. Depending on the kind of insurance coverage a person has, they may be able to receive reimbursement for part or all of the cost associated with egg freezing.
Those who have employer-sponsored health plans should read through their policy carefully in order to determine if any expenses related to infertility treatments are covered. If a patient’s plan does cover infertility treatments, then it is likely that some portion of the costs associated with harvesting and storing eggs will also be covered by insurance. It is important for patients to familiarize themselves with any limitations that may be stated in their policies regarding IVF and egg freezing treatments.
Individuals without access to employer-sponsored health care plans may still qualify for coverage depending on what state they live in since 15 states require insurers to provide comprehensive infertility benefits, including egg freezing procedures. It is recommended that patients research fertility plans available within their state so they understand which ones offer coverage related to these kinds of services as well as any qualifications necessary before applying for an individual health plan with fertility benefits. Some women’s clinics offer financing options such as allowing payments over a period of time or assistance programs designed specifically for patients paying out of pocket – this type of information can often be found directly from clinic websites.
Risks Associated With Egg Freezing
Egg freezing is a process that can help you secure your fertility for the future. Despite it being beneficial, there are some risks associated with egg freezing.
First of all, eggs have to be frozen at a very low temperature, which means they may not survive the thawing process and lead to failed fertilization or pregnancy. Complications can occur during hormone stimulation which could lead to ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome. This condition occurs when too much hormones are introduced into the body, leading to a number of symptoms such as abdominal pain and feeling of extreme fullness in your stomach. The risk of this occurring increases if any pre-existing medical conditions exist prior to beginning the egg freezing process.
Since it is an advanced fertility procedure there is also a risk associated with picking up diseases from other donors’ eggs that have not been properly tested or screened before introduction into your reproductive system. Though safety protocols are usually followed by doctors who harvest donor eggs for women who opt for using them as part of their egg freezing method, it’s still important to consider these potential risks beforehand.
