If you are considering freezing your eggs, you might have also wondered: Does my health insurance cover egg freezing? While insurance varies by provider and payment, there are some elements of the egg freezing process that is often covered by health insurance.
Cost-Benefit Ratio
Elective oocyte cryopreservation, more commonly referred to as egg freezing, is most successful when women freeze enough eggs to ensure they have a reliable family building option for the future, should achieving pregnancy not work as planned. A large factor for women considering egg freezing is the cost-benefit ratio: how much will it cost and does my health insurance cover egg freezing, and how do I know it will be beneficial?
Does My Health Insurance Cover Egg Freezing?
Considered elective by the majority of insurance companies, coverage for oocyte cryopreservation for both elective freezing and for oncofertility is rarely, if ever, covered in full by insurance. With that in mind, there are parts of the egg freezing process that are often covered by the 30+ insurance companies SGF participates with, including: diagnostic or ovarian reserve testing and a physician consultation. In fact, approximately 90% of Shady Grove Fertility elective egg freezing patients have coverage for this portion of the egg freezing process.
To Freeze or Not to Freeze? Your Team is Here to Help
Here is a breakdown of what you will experience during this first step in the egg freezing process:
- Diagnostic testing: The Ovarian Assessment Report provided by ReproSource includes several hormonal tests that provide insight into a woman’s current ovarian reserve (her resting eggs). Some of the hormones measured include AHM, LH, FSH and estradiol.
- Physician consultation: During your initial consultation, your physician will discuss the results of your Ovarian Assessment Report, as well as what to expect during the egg freezing process. Your consultation will result in three main takeaways:
- A closer look at your current fertility potential, or your ability to have a child. This discussion is based on the results of your Ovarian Assessment Report and vaginal ultrasound. Even though you are not trying to have a baby now, it will determine if egg freezing is a good option.
- If egg freezing is a good option for you. Some women may not benefit from the process of egg freezing because their egg supply is limited, while others may want to wait a few years before freezing. Read more about age and fertility.
- If egg freezing is a good option for you, how many cycles can you anticipate needing in order to reach the recommended number of eggs? Recommendations range from 15-20 or 20-30 mature eggs and are based on your personal egg supply, age, and medical history.
- Meet your nurse: As a Shady Grove Fertility egg freezing patient, you will have the same physician and nurse during your treatment cycle or cycles, and if you wish to come back to Shady Grove Fertility in the future to use your eggs for pregnancy. Your nurse will help you navigate the egg freezing process: she will encourage you during a cycle and be your primary point of contact. It is important to note that your nurse and physician are your team. During your egg freezing cycle, your team works together daily to discuss your progress and results.
- Meet your financial counselor: The final member of your team is your financial counselor. During your new patient visit, after you meet with your physician and nurse, you will meet with a member of the Shady Grove Fertility Financial Counselor team. The team is comprised of dedicated individuals who are well-trained to assist patients when selecting an appropriate financial program. You will discuss financial options available to you based on your physician’s plans for treatment, for example: how many cycles you can anticipate undergoing. In addition to this, your financial counselor will discuss financing options for egg freezing should you be interested.
The new patient visit was designed to provide women with a holistic view of the egg freezing process. Patients do not have to determine if they want to freeze at this point, but will discuss all possible options with their SGF team, which includes your physician, nurse, and financial counselor. After the bloodwork, ultrasound, and new patient consultation, patients are equipped with the appropriate information, i.e. costs, success rates, process, and expectations, to make their decision to freeze or not to freeze.
