Scheduling lady from RE office called me this afternoon to schedule my surgery. Tim and I decided to go through both hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. Doctor told me that laparoscopy would not be needed if I was just going to do IVF, but I am not ready to consider that yet. My surgery is scheduled on 12/10. I will be going to do my pre-ops on 12/6, the day after we come back from Costa Rica. I was told to use contraceptions and try not to become pregnant until then. I understand where she is coming from, but it's ironic. I am in this predicament because of my inability to become pregnant.
As of today, my period still hasn't come. It should arrive tomorrow. I just know it. If for some crazy miracle it didn't come and I turned out to be pregnant, screw surgery. I'd worry about that damn polyp and tube later. My CPA exam is creeping up. I now have less than two weeks to study. I haven't been able to really concentrate on my studying at all. I'll just take it and see what happens. If I pass, it better not be taken as my karmic retribution.
I went ahead and called IVF clinic in Osaka, Japan, my home town. The price sheet was for uninsured, but still was 1/3 of the price here. The lady said that if I could get all my testing done in the US, I needed to be there for my first visit and consultation with my test results, then come back right around my ovulation time. I thanked her and said I'd call her back when I need to cross that bridge. I wanted to go home to see my mom and the rest of my family anyway. I think my work will be understandable. After all, isn't that FMLA? Considering I will be out for three months after giving birth, if I took off for a few months, it can not be that big of a deal. Tim can work from anywhere. Besides, he lived in Japan for 15 years, so he will probably feel right at home. He is more Japanese than me anyway. Given the circumstances, I think my work will let me work remotely for some portion.
I am getting excited about our possible extra vacation / IVF. I did my research today and it is cheaper ANYWHERE else outside of the US. If Japan is not feasible, there's Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, India... the possibility is endless.
Morning. I have heard IVF is cheaper overseas than in the US - isn't that crazy? In order for us to do what's called a multi rate plan (2 fresh / 2 frozen), it's going to cost like $20k just to cover the first round of medications with IVF and we'll need to take out a $5k loan for meds each new cycle. And to boot, our insurance in the US is worse than overseas too. I'm really scared about these numbers. Trying to have a baby should not be about making us so broke. But I guess this is what it has come down to :(
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how hard it is to study with all this going on - I'm so sorry. Would it be possible to postpone your exam after your surgery?
I can postpone it, but I don't really want to. To be honest, I rescheduled it like 3 times for this section already. I think I will dwell on this infertility research and avoid studying perpetually if I let myself.
DeleteIVF procedure is cheaper ANYWHERE else in the world compared to the U.S. I am considering liquidating my 401K. People say raising a child is expensive, but we are already in the hole before we even start raising a child. It is outrageous what we have to pay here. If I was ever successful of having a baby with or without IVF, I want to help others who are struggling with our issues.
Although I can't help but wonder, how many people say screw it and default on IVF loan? After all, it is a unsecured loan and if the outcomes were not what we hoped for, what's the incentive to pay back?
Have you thought about having the procedures in Canada? Even Canada is cheaper.
Unfortunately, we don't have any available funds for hotel stays if we were to to do it in Canada. It just works out easier for us to stay close to home ... ofcourse, it's much more expensive. I am really wrestling right now with going with the cheaper, one shot only price plan or the more expensive multi-rate plan (2 fresh and 2 frozen). It's a catch 22 because if it doesn't work the first time, you're actually spending more than you would on the multi-rate plan and my RE says 56% of couples need more than one IVF. Ugh. I'm too scared to go into debt from this!! I can't take it! :(
DeleteStupid me, I didn't think about the hotel stays and other going back and forth. I guess unless you live somewhere near the boarder, it won't be worth it. It's really really wrong of our system for not covering these things. Nothing should be that expensive. I'd say sure, IVF shouldn't be handed out like candies, but when they see a couple who are loving, established, wanting to have a baby, they should be provided with the service for a reasonable price.
DeleteDoes your RE have something like refund plan? I see my RE has something called 3+3 100% IVF refund program if not successful in third try.
Not stupid at all! I guess a lot of people travel for IVF's but unfortunately, we can't afford that :( I hope you're able to get it done in Japan though like you were thinking.
DeleteMy RE does have a refund program but it's their most expensive (they have three plans - individual, multi-rate and refund programs). That's awsome yours give 100% back, the refund program at my clinic gives 75% back. Unfortunately, the refund programs is too expensive b/c if you get pregnant you get nothing back so we can't afford that. The individual plan is the most affordable but it's a big gamble if you don't get pregnant the first time b/c then you're spending more than you would if you did the multi-rate plan, which is also expensive but I think it makes the most sense to go that route. Plus, I told myself if we get pregnant the first time, we can get the rest of the loan money back to the bank. And if no pregnancy, well, at least we know we're saving money by choosing this plan. All in all though, it's going to come down to an extra monthly bill of $300-400 a month and that's a big hit for us :( I'm trying to stop worrying about it for now and just focus on this last IUI. It's too much stress worrying about how to pay for IVF.
I guess the higher the IVF success rate of the doctor is, the higher the refund percentage. I am sure it is set up so the doctors don't lose their money.
DeleteI agree with your decision to take out the loan for multiple plan. I understand the financial pressure that will put you guys.
Extra $300-400 is a big money. But if you think some people pay that kind of money every month for a brand new car, what you will be doing is a lot better way of taking out a loan. Your student loan and IVF loan are not for something that people can take away from you or depreciate as time goes on.
I do however pray you don't have to cross that bridge. I pray really hard this is your month. You truly deserve it.