We often hear from patients that the cost of fertility treatment is the biggest barrier to scheduling a first consultation,” says Dr. Anne Namnoum of SGF Atlanta. “Patients often think IVF is their only option and it’s not affordable.” SGF Atlanta believes cost should not be a barrier for seeking fertility care. Affording IVF treatment is possible through the practices exclusive Shared Risk 100% Refund Program for both IVF or donor egg to make IVF treatment affordable.
“The program was designed specifically for our patients and includes a fixed cost of up to six IVF treatment cycles. If you do not get pregnant, or choose to withdraw from the program, you receive 100% of your money back,” says Namnoum. SGF Atlanta was able to first introduce the Shared Risk Program following their merger with Shady Grove Fertility in 2017. The program offers a simple guarantee: take home a baby or receive 100% of your money. (Note: Some exclusions may apply, please talk with your financial counselor to learn more.)
“Many patients think this program is too good to be true, but with over 20,000 Shady Grove Fertility families who have participated in this program, we see it as a financial safety net when pursuing fertility treatment,” adds Namnoum. Today, about 82 percent of our Shared Risk 100% Refund Program participants will go on to take home a baby.
How do I know if I am eligible for the Shared Risk Program?
The Shared Risk 100% Refund Program is available for patients either through our autologous program, meaning the female partner will be using her own eggs, or our Donor Egg Program, for those women using donor eggs. Each of these treatment options has their own set of eligibility criteria.
Is there a guarantee program for my remaining frozen embryos?
“We offer a Shared Risk 100% Refund Program for Frozen Embryo Transfers (FETs) to couples with remaining frozen embryos from a previous fresh treatment cycle,” says Namnoum.
Similar to the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program for IVF or Donor Egg, this program allows approved patients unlimited FET treatment cycles for as many frozen embryos as that patient may have available at the time she enters the program. In terms of program completion, a patient has the following possible outcomes: she will have a successful pregnancy and delivery; she will withdraw from the program at any time and receive a full refund; or she will use all of the embryos that are available without conceiving and receive a full refund as well.
Are there other discount programs to help make IVF treatment affordable?
SGF Atlanta’s Multi-Cycle Discount Program is not a guarantee program, but it does include one flat fee for all cycle monitoring, up to two fresh IVF cycles, cryopreservation, the first year of embryo storage and unlimited FETs.
Multi-Cycle vs. Shared Risk. What are the differences?
The first difference is the guarantee. The Multi-Cycle Discount Program may make sense for patients who do not meet the qualifications for the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program; however, it is important to note that the Multi-Cycle Discount Program does not offer a guarantee of outcome in the form of taking home a baby or a 100 percent refund.
The second difference is when the cycle is considered complete. In the Multi-Cycle Discount Program, SGF Atlanta considers the cycle complete when the patient reaches the egg retrieval. In our Multi-Cycle Discount Program, if no embryos result (due to a lack of fertilization), the patient will not get the opportunity to repeat the cycle; whereas in the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, we consider the cycle complete at the point of embryo transfer. Should a patient have her eggs retrieved and have nothing to transfer (as a result of poor or no fertilization), she will get to repeat the cycle again.
“We encourage our patients to speak with one of our dedicated financial advisors as well as their physicians to help determine which option is best for you,” says Namnoum. “We know that fertility treatment is a financial commitment, but we are here to help guide you every step of the way,” adds Namnoum.
SGF Atlanta has three locations in Alpharetta, Atlanta-Northside, and Buckhead-Piedmont. To schedule an appointment with one of SGF Atlanta’s three physicians, Drs. Mark Perloe, Desireé McCarthy-Keith, or Anne Namnoum, please call 1-877-971-7755 or complete this brief online form.
