new here -- coach me through shopping around for IVF

[Anonymous]

long story short, we need ivf. no insurance coverage. most likely not eligible for shared risk. own eggs and sperm. don't need icsi, but may opt for pgs.

it's clear that different clinics have different prices for things, different prepayment options, etc. do i need to make an appointment and bring all my records to each clinic before i can find out what my payment options are? is there some way i can find out what programs i'd be eligible for without going through all that? we like our current clinic and doctor, but are willing to switch for financial reasons if the difference is great enough.

if i do need to make appointments at all the clinics, what will they need? will i have to redo all the initial testing at each clinic? will records suffice? or can i just tell them what i remember from my diagnositcs?

[Anonymous]

Most clinics will do a free consultation and will cover most of your questions with you before you see a doc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most clinics will do a free consultation and will cover most of your questions with you before you see a doc.

This and there's a lot of information on clinic websites, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:long story short, we need ivf. no insurance coverage. most likely not eligible for shared risk. own eggs and sperm. don't need icsi, but may opt for pgs.

it's clear that different clinics have different prices for things, different prepayment options, etc. do i need to make an appointment and bring all my records to each clinic before i can find out what my payment options are? is there some way i can find out what programs i'd be eligible for without going through all that? we like our current clinic and doctor, but are willing to switch for financial reasons if the difference is great enough.

if i do need to make appointments at all the clinics, what will they need? will i have to redo all the initial testing at each clinic? will records suffice? or can i just tell them what i remember from my diagnositcs?

to my knwoledge they make you do the same diagnostics at diff clinics, unless you get medical records sent over which can be annoying

[Anonymous]

Records will suffice at most clinics in the DC area. There are some that require their own, but none in this area that I know of. Certain tests have to be redone after a certain period of time, so depending on how long things take, you could have to redo things.

If you've had infectious disease testing recently, you can get those records (or get the test done and maybe get it covered by insurance) from your typical doc (e.g., HIV). You can ask the RE exactly what they need - I don't remember the whole list.

If you do request records, I've found it's easiest to pick them up in person. I did have luck getting them by secure email once, but my nurse was super wonderful and all other times it's been pretty annoying - but certainly less annoying that paying double for stuff.