Eggonomics: Seven Options for Paying for Donor Egg IVF

While donor egg IVF offers hope for individuals and couples facing infertility, as well as same-sex couples looking to have children, the significant cost associated with retrieving donor eggs can be a barrier to access for many patients. The increasing demand for donor eggs has highlighted the need to make it more accessible and affordable. 

The good news is that there are ways to lessen the financial burden. This article explores various payment options and financial solutions that can help you navigate the financial challenges of pursuing donor eggs. From financing programs and employer stipends to tax credits, Health Savings Accounts (HSA)/Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), egg sharing, and grants, we provide a comprehensive analysis of these avenues to make donor eggs more financially attainable.

1. Financing donor eggs

Some fertility clinics offer financing programs that allow you to pay for egg donation services over time, often with little to no interest. These programs can make the cost of egg donation more manageable by breaking it down into smaller, more affordable payments. However, it's essential to understand the terms and conditions of the financing program, including any fees or penalties that may apply.

If you’ve decided you want to go the loan route, you have many options to choose from. There are general lending companies as well as companies that specialize in loans just for fertility treatments.

If you’re pursuing egg donation and are interested in working with us to find your perfect match, we've partnered with Sunfish to offer you fertility financial resources and support throughout your journey. Sunfish offers the most comprehensive marketplace of financial options for IVF, egg freezing, embryo preservations, gestational surrogacy, egg donations, and more, up to $100,000 at industry-low rates. 

Sunfish has also waived their application and membership fees for all intended parents who are working with Cofertility. To take advantage of Cofertility’s infertility loan partnership with Sunfish, click here.

2. Employer stipends and insurance coverage for donor eggs

Some employers recognize the significance of fertility treatments and offer comprehensive benefits that include coverage for donor eggs. Employer-sponsored fertility programs and stipends can significantly reduce the financial burden for individuals pursuing donor eggs. It is crucial for patients to review their insurance policies to determine the extent of coverage for fertility treatments. By understanding the benefits offered by their employers, individuals can maximize their financial resources for this reproductive option.

3. Tax credits and deductions for donor egg IVF

The tax landscape offers potential relief for individuals pursuing donor eggs. Several tax credits and deductions are available for qualifying medical expenses, including fertility treatments. 

In order for donor egg IVF to be tax-deductible in the United States, it must be deemed medically necessary. This means that the procedure must be recommended by a healthcare provider and must be performed to treat a medical condition. For example, if a woman is unable to conceive naturally due to premature ovarian failure, then donor egg IVF may be deemed medically necessary. But if two men in a same-sex relationship need an egg donor to build their family, unfortunately the IRS does not view this as tax deductible. 

Additionally, the expenses associated with donor egg IVF must be significant enough to meet the threshold for medical expense deductions. In the United States, this threshold is currently set at 7.5% of a person's adjusted gross income (AGI). This means that if your AGI is $50,000, you can only deduct medical expenses that exceed $3,750.

It's also worth noting that not all expenses associated with donor egg IVF are tax-deductible. It’s best to speak with a tax professional or financial advisor to determine your eligibility for tax-deductible donor egg IVF and to ensure that you are following all necessary procedures for claiming the deduction.

Read more in Is Egg Donation IVF Tax-Deductible?‍

4. Using health insurance for donor eggs

Across the country, 17 states (and counting!) have laws requiring insurance companies to cover or offer coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment. 

However, the specifics of these laws vary widely from state to state, and not all necessarily mandate coverage for procedures involving donor eggs. While most laws are vague without any mention of donor eggs, a few specifically require coverage of donor eggs. Let’s look at those:

Delaware 

The DE law states that “in vitro fertilization, including IVF using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos and IVF where the embryo is transferred to a gestational carrier or surrogate must be covered”

Maine 

The ME law states that health plans must cover fertility diagnostics and treatment, without “any limitations on coverage for any fertility services based on an enrollee's use of donor gametes”. However, any nonmedical costs for using donor eggs can be excluded from coverage.

Massachusetts

The MA law requires insurance plans to cover treatment of infertility including donor egg procurement.

New Hampshire

The NH law states that health plans must provide coverage for medically necessary fertility treatment, including “treatments associated with the procurement of donor eggs.”

New Jersey

NJ law requires health plans to provide coverage for four egg retrievals per lifetime, and 

IVF using donor eggs.

Even if your state has infertility coverage laws in place, your specific health plan might not be required to comply, or may have specific qualifications (like being under age 40 or in a heterosexual partnership). Self-insured or self-funded insurance plans are exempt from state law and employers do not have to follow the state insurance laws. Some states also exempt employers under a certain size from having to provide coverage. The best way to find out is to talk to your health plan directly.

Read more in Does Health Insurance Cover Donor Eggs?

5. Using HSA/FSA accounts for donor eggs

HSA/FSA accounts present an opportunity to utilize pre-tax funds for fertility treatments, including the cost of donor eggs. Contributions made to these accounts can be used to cover eligible medical expenses. Patients should be aware of the eligibility criteria, contribution limits, and documentation requirements associated with HSA/FSA accounts to ensure compliance and maximize their use for donor eggs. It’s best to talk with a tax professional to understand which parts of donor egg IVF can be paid for using HSA/FSA.

6. Egg sharing programs

Egg sharing programs, like Cofertility, provide a more affordable and ethical egg donation experience. Instead of cash compensation, an egg donor gets to keep half of the eggs retrieved for her own future use. 

One significant advantage of the egg sharing model is that donors have a personal stake in the outcomes. When donors contribute a portion of their eggs in exchange for their own IVF treatment down the line, they are invested not only in helping intended parents but also in achieving their own fertility goals. This shared interest leads to a greater sense of commitment and dedication from the donors, potentially resulting in higher-quality eggs and improved success rates.

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing.

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg-sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud of the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!

Read more in Six Reasons Why Egg Sharing is a Better Egg Donation Model for Intended Parents

7. Grants and financial assistance programs

Grants and financial assistance programs specifically designed for fertility treatments can offer significant financial relief to individuals pursuing donor eggs. These programs provide funds to eligible patients based on various criteria such as financial need, medical conditions, or specific demographic considerations. 

You can research and explore available grants and financial assistance programs, carefully review eligibility criteria, and complete the application process diligently to increase their chances of receiving financial support.

• Local grants: You may not have to look too far to find the money you need. Several IVF grants are limited to folks living in very specific geographic regions. At the Starfish Fertility Foundation, for example, one grant is awarded only to uninsured folks living within 50 miles of Nashville, TN. Others are offered through specific clinics. 
• State grants: Time to cast your net a little wider? There are grants out there that cover entire states. In New York, for example, the state’s Department of Health funds grants that are open to residents across the Empire State (provided they use an approved clinic). Other grants come via non-profits that cover care in specific states, and sometimes, you don’t even need to actually be a resident of that state—just willing to travel there for treatment. 
• National grants: These grants come from non-profits located throughout the country. The good news? You don’t have to travel far from home to find fertility help, as the funds can often be used at clinics across the US. The bad news? The competition for national grants is fierce. You’re no longer up against just the folks in your town or state. You’re competing against applicants from everywhere. 
• LGBTQ+ grants: Our partners at GayParentsToBe maintain a list of LGBTQ+ friendly grants for family-building.

The financial cost of donor eggs should not be an insurmountable barrier for individuals and couples seeking fertility treatment. Continued efforts by healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocacy groups (like Resolve!) are necessary to promote equitable access to fertility care and support individuals in their journey toward building a family.

Find an amazing egg donor at Cofertility

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing. 

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud about the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!