Egg Freezing Costs Are Leaving People In the Cold

Between the ads on Instagram and the influencers sharing their ‘egg freezing journeys,’ it seems like everyone is thinking about freezing their eggs. And the data backs this up: Between 2019 and 2021, there was a nearly 40% increase in egg freezing, according to one study. But how are so many people affording this very costly endeavor? The truth is that for most people, egg freezing is out of reach: A single cycle (including everything that happens before the eggs are stored) costs an average of $16,000 in the US, according to FertilityIQ, and the entire process comes in at $30,000 to $40,000 before the eggs are even used – making it more of a privilege than a choice. 

Why is egg freezing so expensive? 

Let’s just say the process is complex. Every step of the way, there are additional costs to account for and healthcare professionals involved in your care. Not to mention the time commitment: It takes around two to three weeks and involves multiple appointments, probably including at least one day off of work. 

Here’s what a typical egg freezing process entails from the beginning to the end: 

1. Preliminary testing. You’ll have a consultation with a doctor, which involves blood tests and ultrasound scans to assess your fertility – including how many eggs you currently have and how likely they are to result in a healthy baby.  

2. Hormonal medication. You’ll self-administer injectable medicines for more than a week to stimulate egg production and ensure there’s enough for extraction. Your doctor will monitor your progress and egg count during this period. 

3. Egg retrieval. A fertility specialist will remove the eggs from the ovaries while you’re sedated.

4. Storage. Once the eggs have been removed, they must be frozen by a specialist and transferred to storage tanks, where they are kept (for an annual fee) at a precise temperature and monitored until you decide to use, dispose of, or donate your eggs. 

How are people paying for egg freezing?  

For insurance purposes, egg freezing is usually considered elective unless you have a medical problem or are undergoing a treatment that could impact your fertility, such as certain cancer treatments. That’s why in most cases, insurance plans don’t cover it. Dr. Eve Feinberg, a fertility specialist and a founder of a not-for-profit that gives financial assistance to people struggling with infertility, says the “huge barrier against women's healthcare in general” is a significant factor in the lack of coverage. “Men have coverage for [some erectile dysfunction drugs], which admittedly is elective,” she says, illustrating the gender health inequities. 

Any coverage for elective egg freezing generally comes through employer benefits. In 2020, nearly 20% of US companies with more than 20,000 employees had egg-freezing coverage options, compared to only 6% in 2015, according to one survey — a sign of progress, but more assistance is needed to keep up with the rising demand. Fertility benefits will vary but can include covering the cost of egg freezing outright, contributing a set amount of money to offset the cost, or offering discounted rates from fertility clinics. 

Is there any way to make it more affordable?

Here's a list of potential strategies to make egg freezing more affordable:

• Review your health benefits: Call your health insurance provider and get the details on what’s covered and ask your employer if they cover egg freezing. Pro-tip: If the answer is no, Dr. Temeka Zore, a fertility specialist and OB-GYN at Spring Fertility, recommends asking your employer to consider it. “Companies have the option to add on fertility benefits for their employees through the different fertility benefits companies,” says Dr. Zore. You can mention that it may benefit the company too.

• Explore loan programs: Some fertility clinics allow patients to pay in monthly installments. There are also companies that specialize in fertility financing, including Future Family and LendingClub. 

• Apply for grants: Certain non-profits offer grants, particularly for people facing medical issues or urgent health needs. You can find options here. 

• Compare prices: Just don’t decide based on price alone – cross-check different clinics and their treatment outcomes on the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology’s website.

• Consider freeze and donate programs: Some programs may offer reduced costs or free cycles of egg freezing if you agree to donate some of your eggs.

theSkimm

Egg freezing is becoming more popular, but it’s still largely financially inaccessible. And while there have been strides in employer benefits to help minimize the cost, the financial barrier is still exceedingly high, leaving many people who may have considered the procedure unsure about their fertility future.