7 Unconventional Ways to Pay for IVF

You’ve probably heard that IVF treatments are expensive and usually not covered by insurance. Yet it’s not out of reach for you! Families across a spectrum of income levels can make it happen—even if it means getting a little bit creative with funding.

Yes, there are more typical funding sources, such as loans and credit cards. You can also lessen the financial burden by finding discounts for fertility medications, identifying tax reimbursements, or using an HSA savings account. But we have also seen families obtain the money they need through alternative means.

Here are just a few of the imaginative ways that families have paid for their IVF treatments. Read on to see if one of these imaginative funding opportunities is right for you!

Crowdsourcing

If you search for IVF on GoFundMe, one of the most popular crowdsourcing platforms that helps people raise money for a variety of things, you’ll find many successful IVF treatment campaigns that have raised thousands of dollars. Crowdfunding is not for everyone. It does require some effort as well as comfort with being in the spotlight. You’ll have to tell the public your story and get people to empathize with your situation. It also helps if you have a lot of friends and family you can share the campaign with. You’ll need to be savvy with your marketing or find a friend with the PR chops to help you set up a successful campaign. But if this is something you are comfortable with, crowdfunding can raise enough money to pay for significant costs as part of your IVF treatment. GoFundMe even has a page specifically dedicated to setting up an IVF funding campaign.

Host Your Own Fundraiser

How about throwing a fun event for your community that also benefits your IVF treatment fund? People absolutely love a social event where they can have fun with friends and family and possibly meet new people. Non-profit organizations and charity do it all the time to raise money, and it’s more than possible for your own family as well as long as you are willing to be the organizer. You could host anything from a trivia night, battle of the bands, chili cookout, or even a 5k — and charge the guests an entrance fee or simply accept donations. Everyone has a great time, and the proceeds will go to the costs associated with your IVF treatment. Ready to get started? Here is a great list of fundraising events you could plan!

Start an Entrepreneurial Side Gig
Becoming a freelancer on the side is a great way to make some extra money that could go towards your IVF fund. If you have any kind of skill that could be monetized – whether it’s writing, editing, graphic design, voice acting, or business strategy – you can put that to work with a little bit of savvy. One of the best known freelancer platforms is Upwork where you can find clients in other states (which is especially great if you live in a state with a lower cost of living). You’ll need to find your own clients, but the benefit is that you’ll also be able to claim an assortment of deductions on your taxes at the end of the year.

Selling and Flipping Stuff

If you’ve ever seen Antiques Roadshow, you know that you might have an antique or special memorabilia in your attic that could fetch a big price at an auction. There are people who actually do this for a living – finding and procuring old valuable stuff that others don’t want and then auctioning it off for a profit. You never know what you might have in your house. It might be worth the time to do some digging — maybe you’ll even find a treasure that pays for your whole IVF treatment! Another idea is to buy other people’s items at garage sales or online marketplaces like Facebook and then flip them on eBay. You’ll be able to see what certain items are going for on eBay and know what they’re worth.

Grants for Fertility Treatments

Did you know there are foundations that give out grants to hopeful parents who need to pay for IVF treatments? BabyQuest, for example, was born out of a young woman’s struggle to get pregnant. These organization understand the difficult journey to parenthood for some families and exist to support the community. You can find a useful list of grants and scholarships for IVF treatment here.

Are you ready to learn more about what it takes to get an IVF treatment and what the costs and financing options may be? Get in touch with a fertility specialist at the Alabama Center for Reproductive Medicine to explore fertility treatments.

We’re proud to partner with the following financial institutions to make funding your treatment convenient:

Care Credit – offers as little as no interest payment options on office visits, surgical procedures, and/or IVF procedures

United Medical Credit – offers as little as 5% interest on IVF procedures and/or IVF medications