Cost of initial evaluation and workup?

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I'm 34, TTC #2 . It took 2.5 years, clomid, change in job and meditation/accupuncture for #1. I'm now older and even less fertile Its time for us start down the specialist route -- you all in this forum have helped me to work up the nerve to go ahead and stop indulging my denial.

Insurance covers "nothing related to infertility". There are a lot of good estimates for IVF cost but it seems like dr visits and nurse/lab visits can really add up too. A previous post mentioned HSG significantly discounted at GW. Intriguing.

If we need to pursue IVF, then cost will not be the driving factor in practice choice. But at this point (initial Dr. evaluation, baseline infertility bloodwork, HSG, up to monitoring U/S, even medicated IUI) I'd really like to find the best price point.

Can anyone who paid out of pocket give me a ballpark of what you paid or who at your practice to talk to re costs for:
-Dr. visits
-nurse/labwork visits (additional charge or not?)
-HSG
-monitored clomid cycle
-monitored IUI

Thanks TONS!

Jen

[Anonymous]

If you call Shady Grove, they can let you know how much they charge for the initial workup (I think they gave me a breakout of how much they charge for each individual test/procedure). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I paid SG close to $500 for bloodwork (estrogen, progesterine and something else) and a monitoring ultrasound (to measure my follicles) when I was an out-of-town patient. So I would think that your initial bloodwork (FSH, estrogen, etc) and day 3 ultrasound (to measure ovaries and count follicles) would be similar. My DH paid a little over $100 for his semen analysis. Add in another $300-400 for the doctor's consult.

Did you have an HSG prior to having your child? If so, you may be able to convince the RE to skip it.

If you go to a smaller clinic, you may be able to negotiate a better deal since you don't have insurance. Can you switch to your DH's insurance for better coverage?

[Anonymous]

I made an appointment with the person at Dominion that does all of their patient payment stuff...she was wonderful, patient and explained everything. I'm sure you could do the same.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

From what I remember, Dominion's prices are higher than SG. You may want to use them (the pros and cons of that clinic have been discussed numerous times on this board), but if you are worried about cost I'd avoid them for the initial consult. They were happy to treat me even though all my screenings were done at other clinics.

[Anonymous]

OP here. MANY thanks to all!

Wow. This is eye-opening and gives me a ballpark to gauge conversations with the financial folks We're talking about $1000 to $1500 before sperm get anywhere near egg! Time to put some $$$ into the HSA. Unfortunately DH insurance even stingier than mine.

I'm leaning towards GW because I live in DC. Haven't had a prior HSG so that's probably in my near future (anovulation/poor quality ovulation was my only issue in the past, probably unwisely did unmonitored Clomid. Now per BBT charts and OPKs there appears to be a new issue other than ovulation).

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who said that getting an HSG test there was cheaper. Other tests may not be cheaper there (I just got a referral from my RE at Dominion and made an appt with GW's radiology dept -- I bypassed the REs at GW). But the HSG is probably the most expensive test, so if you want to get everything done in one place that may be the way to go. Also, I had my HSG done by a 24 year old male medical resident - and could not choose my doctor -- just warning you...

[Anonymous]

I am having an HSG tomorrow at WRA. They quoted me almost $1100 for the procedure. I could have gone to GW, but I was more worried about the outpatient hospital costs (which I did not have quoted) and the chance of a med student/resident doing the procedure.

[Anonymous]

I go to Columbia Fertility. Here are some costs there that they described to me:

- Initial dr visit $375
- natural IUI $250 plus about $200 for sperm prep
- clomid coitus cycle (global fee) $550
- Injectible coitus cycle (global fee) $750
- Clomid IUI (global fee) $1000
- Injectible IUI (global fee) $2500

Global fee includes all testing/monitoring (blood work, sonograms, sperm prep, etc) but not medications which if Clomid is only like $50 but if injectible can be $1500 to 2500.

I don't know about initial blood work or HSG since my insurance covered. But I do know that for HSG at WRA they charged my insurance about $1000 for procedure but accepted something ridiculous like $300. So not sure if you could call and negotiate to pay the insurance rate.

[Anonymous]

Initial workup at Dominion and per bills:
The consultation is around $375, husband's analysis total: $600, pelvic sono: $375, pelvic for specimens $225, day 3 hormones: $375, labcorp: $200. I might have forgotten sth (HSG not included and pre-ART labs not included) Yes, it's expensive. One of the PP forgot all the tests, imaging and lab costs for the initial workup and posted only the doctor visit by itself.

[Anonymous]

Yes I only listed doctor visit cost as OP asked about - like I said I don't know initial blood work and other costs since insurance paid - and others seemed to address that anyway.