National Survey Reveals Financial Challenges Cited as Biggest Hurdle to Seeking Infertility Treatment
Shady Grove Fertility has pioneered numerous financial programs to help make treatment affordable in support of the belief that cost should not stand in the way of building a family.
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A recent national survey conducted by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, of whom Shady Grove Fertility is a visionary partner, reveals the overwhelming majority of respondents (n=425) cite financial challenges as the biggest hurdle to seeking help from a fertility specialist.
As a leading fertility center in the nation, Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) believes cost should not be a barrier to seeking help from a fertility specialist. "At Shady Grove Fertility, our top priority is to clear the obstacles our patients face when trying to start a family. We feel that by reducing or eliminating the financial stress of fertility treatment, more patients will be able to seek care and move forward with treatment," shares Michael J. Levy, M.D., co-founder of Shady Grove Fertility.
When in need of fertility care, people often ask, "How will I pay for treatment?" The good news is 90 percent of SGF patients have coverage for their initial physician consult and 70 percent have some level of coverage for diagnostic testing and treatment, including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The news is especially good for Maryland residents who often benefit from state-mandated IVF coverage.
For those patients without adequate insurance coverage, the practice has created guarantee and discount programs exclusively for their patients. SGF was the first practice to create an IVF program with a refund guarantee, known as the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program. This exclusive program provides patients with the opportunity to pay a flat fee for up to six IVF or donor egg cycles and any subsequent frozen embryo transfers. In the event the patient does not take home a baby, SGF provides a full refund. The program is so popular and the outcome data so compelling, the practice was recently able to reduce the price by nearly 15% for women using their own eggs under 35, and extended the age in which a woman is eligible to participate and use her own eggs by 2 years to 41 years of age.
Other popular programs that make treatment affordable include SGF's Shared Help Discount Program, an income-based program that offers a discount on most treatments and procedures provided by SGF, the Military Discount Program, which offers active U.S. military and reservists a 25 percent discount off qualifying self-pay rates, and a Shared Donor Egg Program, which reduces the cost of donor egg treatment by up to 50 percent when sharing donating eggs with other patients—an approach that does not lower the chances of conception but does significantly lower the cost.
"For us, Shared Risk was just the lifeline we needed. We had exhausted our other options at other centers and always came up short on cash and with no baby. This amazing program gave us the peace of mind that we needed—knowing a practice had a vested interest in our pregnancy outcome was incredibly reassuring to us. And now, we're finally going to be parents," shares one recent SGF Shared Risk patient.
Since understanding insurance benefits and financial options can be daunting to patients, the practice has dedicated financial counselors dedicated to each patient to help navigate through the decision making process.
"Removing the barriers that stand in the way of patients receiving fertility treatment is critical to our practice. Our financial programs address this need, and the end result is we've had more than 50,000 babies born and counting," adds Levy.
To learn more about SGF's financial programs, or to schedule an appointment with a physician, contact the New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit a brief online form.
About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)
SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 50,000 babies born and counting. With 31 locations throughout MD, PA, VA, D.C., GA, and FL, we offer patients individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.
About RESOLVE
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a national nonprofit patient advocacy organization. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age has trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. Founded in 1974, RESOLVE provides free support groups in more than 200 communities; is the leading patient advocacy voice; and serves as the go-to organization for anyone challenged in their family building. For more information, visit http://www.RESOLVE.org.
SOURCE Shady Grove Fertility
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