High fertility costs push Americans abroad for IVF treatment
A growing number of Americans are looking abroad, particularly to Greece and Spain, to escape the high cost of fertility treatments in the U.S., where such procedures are often not covered by insurance. The treatments include in vitro fertilization, which involves ovulation stimulation, retrieving eggs, fertilizing them in a lab and transferring the embryos into the uterus. Other less intensive…
A growing number of Americans are seeking fertility treatments abroad, particularly in Greece and Spain, due to the high cost and often lack of insurance coverage for such procedures in the U.S. This trend is driven by rising IVF medication costs and the need for multiple treatment cycles, with an average patient requiring two to three cycles to successfully conceive.
In the U.S., the cost for a cycle of IVF can exceed $29,000, representing 35% of the median annual household income. However, in Greece, IVF treatment using a patient's own eggs typically costs between $3,000 and $4,000, making it a more affordable option even when accounting for travel expenses. This shift in treatment location is further influenced by political factors, such as the proposed personhood legislation in Florida, which adds to the uncertainty surrounding fertility care coverage.
Brief written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
