Wellness·4 min read

I Froze My Eggs to Focus on My Career

November 6, 2019

The Story

Oocyte cryopreservation. Egg freezing. Putting your future babies on ice. No matter what you call it, there’s a pretty big price tag.

How much are we talking?

For Vix Reitano, it was more than $8,000. That included $350 for initial blood work and other tests, over $3,500 for hormones that stimulate egg production, and $4,500 for the egg retrieval procedure. But the cost varies a LOT based on your health, insurance coverage, and the clinic or hospital you go to. Think: anywhere from $4,000 to $13,000.

Oh, and some women may need to go through more than one cycle to get the number of eggs they want. On the bright side, some clinics charge less for additional cycles.

So much for cheap chills.

Right. And that doesn’t even cover what it costs to store the eggs...a price that can change from year to year. That currently sets Vix back about $600. But it can cost more than $1,000, depending on your clinic and how long your eggs will stay frozen. Vix says she could’ve locked in one price for three, five or 10 years. If you’re talking to your clinic about options, see if that’s one of them. 

Will my insurance cover any of this?

Depends on your policy. Which you should read VERY carefully. Elective procedures often aren’t covered. So your medical history could dictate whether you're picking up the full tab for the retrieval.

But don’t assume your insurance won’t cover medication just because it won’t pay for other parts of the process. Vix ended up paying for hormones on her own, too...but you might not have to.

Related: Health Insurance Terms, Skimm’d

So she just had $8,000 lying around?

Not exactly. As the founder and CEO of a creative digital agency, she reinvests most of her earnings into her business. So she picked up some extra work to cover some of these costs. Then took out a loan so she wouldn’t have to pay for the rest all at once.

Are those my only options?

Some clinics offer payment plans. But those can have high interest rates and late penalties just like personal loans. Another option: CareCredit. That’s a special credit card just for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses that typically doesn’t charge any interest for the first few months. Just be sure to read the fine print. You’re still accruing interest during the promo period, which you’ll owe if you don’t repay the loan in full before it ends.

Check your work benefits, too. Fertility coverage could be a perk. And you might be able to use a flexible or health savings account for infertility-related egg freezing.

Related: The Best Investment Account for Every Money Goal

You can also save for these costs by cutting back in other parts of your budget. But don’t dip into your emergency fund. That’s your best backup plan in case life hits you with a not-so-fun surprise.

theSkimm

Freezing your eggs is a good option when you want to keep your options open. But it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get pregnant down the road. And the price probably won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. As you explore how to create the future family you want, think through what that could mean for your future finances, too. Seeing how other people navigated the process can help.

Asking for a Friend videos highlight one woman's story. They do not necessarily reflect theSkimm's point of view.

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