One of the most common themes among women preparing to go through fertility treatments is questioning where they are going to find the financial means to pay for it! Unfortunately, in many cases, more invasive and expensive procedures like IVF are not covered by health insurance. This can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful, especially when you don’t have the money to pay for these treatments! Stick with me, and I’ll break down for you 3 really great tips for relieving the financial burden of fertility treatments.
One of the most underutilized assets for infertility warriors is fertility treatment grants. If you’re scratching your head and asking what in the world a fertility treatment grant is, then you’ve come to the right place! If you’re wondering why you’re reading about something you already know about, keep reading, because I’ve got some juicy details for you.
First, let’s talk for a sec about what a fertility treatment grant is anyway. A grant is a fund provided to someone diagnosed with infertility that is not expected to be paid back.
Grants are offered by various entities, though most commonly organizations that either specialize in infertility or have a special interest in infertility. Some organizations focus all of their efforts on infertility and research, while others have different types of grants for different things.
Grants are given out through an application process, though each one has different application steps, eligibility requirements, and grant fund amounts. Usually the money is donated by members of the organization, or through charity events, and so on.
Fertility treatment grants are an amazing way to fund your fertility treatment if you are struggling financially. So often, health insurance doesn’t cover the cost of more expensive and invasive treatments like IVF. This is where fertility grants come into play!
One of the best ways to relieve the financial stress of fertility treatments is to simply make a list! Now I know you are probably thinking that sounds so simple, it can’t possibly make a difference.
I promise you, it will!
The first step here is to figure out your finances. If you aren’t one for budgeting, now is a really good time to start! Budgeting can be annoying to set up, but man can it make a difference in your financial state.
Whether or not you currently follow or set a budget, this is kind of a different type of budget. This is a budget designed specifically for fertility treatments. It’s helpful to not just know how much money you actually have to go toward fertility treatments, but it’s helpful to figure out exactly what money will go where.
For example, if your fertility treatment costs total $10,000 and you know that you have $5,000 to put toward it, you still have $5,000 that you need to get to cover the rest. And whether this money comes from a grant, a relative, a loan, or wherever; it’s helpful to have it written out on paper so that you know where your money is coming from and what exactly it’s going to.
Even if you’ve applied for a fertility grant, you aren’t guaranteed anything until they contact you and tell you that you were approved and give you the details in writing. So, whether you are going to apply for a grant or not, if you are struggling financially to pay for your treatment, you’re going to want to find out about possible loans.
Many, but not all, clinics and reproductive endocrinologist practices will offer loans, specific to fertility treatments. I highly recommend finding out if your specialist’s office offers loans or works with a company that offers loans rather than doing the research on your own.
Let me back up, you don’t want to forgo doing your own research, but make sure you find out the financial assistance details from your doctor’s office directly, and then do your research with that information already in your hands.
I say this because while you will usually get a better deal from the doctor’s office than if you find a loan on your own, sometimes this is not the case.
Loans come in all shapes and sizes, and companies that specialize in fertility loans often have special options for their loans that you might not find for a more generalized loan.
And there you have it! Your 3 tips for relieving the financial burden of fertility treatments.
Going through infertility is HARD, and going through fertility treatments adds another, invisible layer of difficulty.
Make sure while you’re researching grants, putting together spreadsheets, tables, and/or notes, and doing all of the work you need to do to get the ball rolling, that you’re taking care of yourself as well.
It’s easy to get lost in all of this work, without taking the time for yourself and just breathing.
If you’re into meditation, I highly recommend meditating every day to help with some of this stress. If you are not into meditating, that is okay! When things get overwhelming, take a break, take a few deep breaths and when necessary, put it aside until tomorrow.
Remember… YOU’VE GOT THIS!
