iShare IVF Program

Many couples have limited financial resources to allocate toward building their family. The high and often unpredictable costs associated with IVF along with the uncertain outcome can be major concerns.

Most couples are good candidates for IVF. The iShared IVF Financial Program was developed to reduce a couple’s financial anxiety by fixing the cost involved in participating in multiple IVF cycles. By limiting the amount of money "at risk", this program preserves financial resources for other family-building options should IVF fail.

The iShared IVF  payment program represents a dramatic change from typical fee for service. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has reviewed this concept and stated that with the appropriate checks and balances this program can be ethically pursued and offers great benefits. We offer this program as an alternative financial option but do not try to persuade patients to participate. We advise everyone considering IVF to consider this option, carefully weighing the benefits of iShared IVF Financial Program vs traditional fee-for-service payment. The couple’s decision to participate will not affect medical decisions or care provided.

How It Works
Eligible couples will have undergone a screening evaluation prior to entering the program. Up to three fresh cycles of traditional IVF treatment cycles may be attempted over a two year period for a flat fee of $25,000.

There is a Non-Refundable Enrollment Fee of $6000.00

Once you have delivered your baby during any one of these cycles, XFC has earned its’ fee. In the event treatments have been unsuccessful, you will be refunded the fee less the specified non-refundable enrollment fee. Obviously, couples who successfully achieve pregnancy and deliver during the first cycle will pay more for their care than with traditional fee-for-service medical payments. On the other hand, if you are unsuccessful, XFC assumes the bulk of the cost. That is why this program is called IVF Shared-Risk.

Who qualifies?
The IVF Shared-Risk Financial Program is offered to couples who are considered good candidates for IVF after completing a full medical screening. Women must be 35 or younger (at the start of the first stimulation cycle), with normal ovarian reserve testing and must not have failed 2 or more prior IVF treatment cycles in their history.

The embryo-recipient must have a normal uterus as assessed by a transvaginal ultrasound and either a normal hysterosalpingogram, sonohysterogram or hysteroscopy performed in the preceding 12 months. In previous fertility treatment therapies the embryo recipient must not have demonstrated a poor endometrial response, as demonstrated by a peak endometrial thickness of <8mm and/or an endometrial echo pattern that is not trilaminar to estrogenic stimulation in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle.

All indicated infectious disease screening labs on both male and female partners must be performed and be within normal ranges.

The egg provider must have a day three FSH< 9.0mIU/ml, estradiol<65 pg/ml and antral follicle count of 10 or more.

The man must be capable of producing sperm in his ejaculate, or be willing to go through a procedure to obtain sperm or use a sperm donor. Alternatively, if there is absolutely no sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia), the male partner must have normal testicular sperm production as evidenced by a normal FSH (<12 mIU/ml) and a normal testosterone level. If the sperm concentration in the ejaculate is < 10 million/cc, the sperm motility is less than 30% or the Kruger Strict Criteria morphology is less than 10%, the male partner or sperm donor must undergo Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) and the resulting DNA fragmentation index must be less than 20%.

Treatment cycles involving pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) are excluded from this plan.

A fully completed plan cycle is defined as a complete cycle of follicular stimulation, ultrasound and blood monitoring, transvaginal egg retrieval, fresh embryo transfer and all frozen embryo cycles to transfer all embryos produced from the original egg retrieval.

A successful outcome is based on a live birth. A live birth is defined as a child born who lives more than 72 hours post delivery.

What costs are included in the IVF Shared-Risk Financial Program?:

• Ovulation induction monitoring.
• Facility,  and physician fees ( excluding anesthesia fee ) for the egg retrieval and embryo transfer
• IVF laboratory services including identification of egg, semen processing, fertilization of the eggs.
• Anesthetic supplies and drugs
• All medical and surgical supplies required for egg retrieval and embryo transfer
• If pregnancy is not achieved in the fresh cycle, then all cryopreserved embryos must be transferred before the second or third fresh cycle is initiated.
• Verification of pregnancy including one ultrasound verification of fetal number, position, and heartbeat

What costs are NOT included in the IVF Shared-Risk Financial Program?

• Normal IVF prescreening tests
• Frozen Embryo Transfer cycle fee.
• Recipient medications, except anesthetic agents used during egg retrieval
• Anesthesia fee, paid directly to the anesthesiologist.
• Any expenses related to embryo biopsy or prenatal genetic diagnosis (PGD) Gender Selecton, ICSI, Assisted Hatching ( if indicated)
• Any non-IVF related surgical procedures (laparoscopy, hysteroscopy or D&C for pregnancy loss)
• The cost associated with obtaining donor sperm
• The cost for egg donor recruitment, screening and donor fees
• All care or other medical services provided by non-XFC physicians.
• Any complications related to the IVF process including, but not limited to treatment of hyperstimulation syndrome, pregnancy complications, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy

Can I use an egg donor?
For many couples, pregnancy is unlikely due to advanced age or diminished ovarian reserve. For these couples, the use of an egg donor will often allow a successful pregnancy. After completion of a comprehensive medical evaluation, the age restriction may be waived and participation in the iShare  Egg Donor Program may be offered. Options include the use of a known egg donor provided by the participants or an anonymous donor screened and selected by XPert Fertility Care.

Additional $2000 per cycle fees will be incurred if egg donors are to be used,

What is the next step?

Each established patient completes a request to process an application form. Once an application is implemented by a XFC financial party, the XFC committee will review the application and reserve the right to approve or deny it based on the entry criteria. Age is determined based on the egg provider’s age at the time of the start of gonadotropin medications.

Once approved, the Plan entitles the patient to one complete IVF cycle. Even though the time span of the iShare plan  is over 2 year period, the couple must complete the fresh cycle to stay within the applicable age group to which the ovum source is assigned on the date of execution of the agreement.

To become a patient, please contact our New Patient Coordinator at 866-337-6464 or fill out our online request form for appointments.