IVF treatment is expensive – Costco will now provide cheaper access

A New partnership Between Costco, Sesame (a cash-for-pay health care marketplace), and IVI RMA (a network of fertility clinics) aim to reduce some of the major barriers Americans face when seeking fertility treatment. For $99 a month with a Costco membership (or $119 without), you can meet with a doctor of your choice virtually on the Sesame platform to get a fertility check and make a diagnosis, the companies announced Monday. This means bypassing the often months-long wait times for an appointment with a specialist. From there, Sesame connects you with an IVI RMA clinic in your area — more than 85% of which are located within 25 miles of Costco — to coordinate treatments like IVF (in vitro fertilization) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), at discounted rates, while also discounting medications through Costco’s specialty pharmacy.

Anything that reduces the exorbitant price of IVF is a big win. Brian Levine, MDco-founder and practice director of CCRM Fertility in New York, tells SELF. (Dr. Levine is not affiliated with Costco, Sesame, or IVI RMA.)

There is currently a large gap between the number of people who may seek fertility treatment in the United States — for example, those struggling with infertility or recurrent miscarriage, and members of the LGBTQ+ community — and Those who can access it. “The biggest barrier when it comes to access is cost and affordability, which is undeniable,” says Dr. Levine. The cost of IVF can be upwards of $5,000 or $6,000 with insurance, and up to $30,000 without insurance, if you factor in lab work and related services and medications. Less than half of the states It has a mandate that requires private insurance companies to cover fertility care.

There’s also the problem of finding that care, even if you can afford it. A Study 2023 It is suggested that demand is as high as 2 million per year for IVF cycles in the United States, which would require only 1,250 reproductive endocrinologists in the United States to do approximately seven times the number of cycles they currently complete. The fact that many Costco members live near an IVI RMA clinic is key, since “fertility patients also have to have regular appointments, up to six appointments over a two-week period,” says Dr. Levine. (The partnership will be less beneficial for people who live in New York City or other cities without an IVI RMA clinic.)

“There is also still a lack of awareness about fertility timelines, which means some patients do not seek care until they are older, and their options are more limited,” says Lisa Van Dollah, CEO of Ivy fertilitysays the self. This type of large public partnership could help the conference get started sooner.