What is the economic burden of IVF in the United States?
IVF is a method to achieve pregnancy through in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology, which has become a way for many infertile couples to realize their dreams. However, the related economic burden can not be ignored. This article will elaborate on the economic burden of IVF in the United States from the aspects of medical expenses, insurance coverage, incentive policies for assisted reproduction and follow-up maintenance costs.
medical expense
The medical cost of IVF is usually a significant burden. According to the data of the American Society of Test Tube Infants (ASRM), the national average cost of IVF is about US $12000 to US $25000. However, this is only a basic cost range, and the specific cost will also be affected by some factors, such as the geographical location of the hospital, the doctor's experience and the patient's age.
In addition, IVF treatment may require multiple cycles to successfully conceive, and the cost of each cycle needs to be borne additionally. In the case of economic difficulties, many couples may not be able to bear the cost of multiple cycles, thus increasing the uncertainty of IVF success rate.
In addition, some patients may need other assisted reproductive technologies, such as frozen embryo transfer or egg/sperm donation, and these additional costs also need to be considered.
Insurance coverage
In the United States, the medical expenses of IVF are usually not covered by insurance companies. According to the American Infertility Association (ASRM), about 15 states have stipulated the insurance coverage requirements for IVF, but these requirements are often very limited, limiting the scope of beneficiaries.
Although a few health insurance plans provide IVF coverage, most insurance companies still regard it as an optional treatment and do not pay for it. This means that patients need to bear all the costs of IVF by themselves, increasing their financial burden.
In addition, some insurance companies may provide some coverage of pregnancy aid drugs, but this is only a small part of the whole IVF treatment process, and the reduction of economic burden is limited.
Incentive policy for assisted reproduction
In order to encourage fertility and support infertile couples, some US states have formulated incentive policies for assisted reproduction to reduce the financial burden of IVF. For example, California provides an assisted reproduction tax credit plan for infertile couples living in the state, which can reduce economic pressure by reimbursing part of the expenses of IVF.
However, these incentive policies for assisted reproduction are not uniform among the states in the United States, and some states have no relevant policy support. This has led to the imbalance of the financial burden of IVF, and only a few people can get financial help.
Subsequent alimony
The cost of IVF is not limited to the medical treatment stage, but also includes the subsequent maintenance costs. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child until the age of 18 is about 230000 dollars in the average family.
Test tube babies may incur higher medical costs and long-term maintenance costs due to their involvement in assisted reproductive technology. For some families, this may increase their financial burden, and they need to make financial preparations in advance.
Summary
The economic burden of test tube babies in the United States can be analyzed from many aspects, such as medical expenses, insurance coverage, incentive policies for assisted reproduction, and follow-up support costs. The medical cost of IVF is usually a significant burden and is often not covered by insurance companies. However, some state assisted birth incentive policies can alleviate some of the economic pressure. In addition, the maintenance cost of IVF also needs to be considered, which may have a long-term impact on the family's economic situation.
