Price: $18,000

What's included:
Up to three cycles of assisted in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and unlimited freeze/thaw embryo transfer cycles to use all embryos resulting from the IVF cycles until a baby is delivered.

All C.A.R.S. charges including physician fees, ultrasound charges, costs of medical supplies, laboratory and blood tests for monitoring, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (if indicated), embryo hatching (if indicated).

Medications are not included.

Costs of cryopreservation of embryos and storage of these embryos until completion of the terms of the agreement.

Total refund of this entire prepayment amount if there is not a "take home baby" at the completion of 3 cycles of IVF and transfer of all frozen embryos.

Terms & Conditions:
Participants in the financial protection plan of C.A.R.S. should understand that it is a financial incentive and participation is entirely voluntary with no coercion to participate, or penalty for not participating. There is no difference in fertility therapy with or without participation. The plan may not be the best option for many couples who may elect to continue with our present very costñefficient pay as you go pricing.

In many cases successful pregnancy is achieved in the first IVF attempt, in which case the cost of the IVF pregnancy is much higher than the cost that IVF would have been if the guarantee option had not been elected. Programs that are using similar plans report a very high degree of patient satisfaction even when pregnancy is achieved on the first attempt because the initial childbearing objective has been met. The more therapy that is needed, the more financial burden shifts to C.A.R.S. The cost of conventional pricing of three cycles of IVF is significantly more than the pregnancy guarantee option, especially if there is also cryopreservation of embryos and /or sperm injection. From our present pregnancy rates, it is anticipated that about 75% of couples will be pregnant within the terms of the guarantee.

Payment is due before the start of the medications for stimulation (gonadotropin injections).

Pregnancy success is considered a live born child. Any form of pregnancy loss is not considered success and additional attempts are permissible.

A completed IVF cycle is defined as progression and completion of follicle aspiration of eggs whether eggs are obtained or not and whether or not eggs fertilize. If for any reason a cycle is cancelled before aspiration, it is not considered an IVF attempt.

If a couple has insurance coverage for stimulation and monitoring, by special arrangement a refund plan will be developed to cover only the IVF aspiration and embryo transfer portion. While we will help couples determine their insurance coverage and in most cases file insurance claims, all financial arrangements remain the responsibility of the patient.

All therapy must be completed within 24 months of initiation and before the patient's 40th birthday. For maximum effectiveness, therapy should be started by age 38. By special arrangement frozen embryos may be stored for a longer period, but standard C.A.R.S. charges and policies will apply.

Frozen embryos must be completely used before an additional IVF attempt is started. If pregnancy results with a successful outcome and frozen embryos remain, further transfer charges will be subject to standard C.A.R.S. charges and policies.

Exclusions:
The agreement is made with the participating couple in expectation that chances of pregnancy are within the limits of our usual IVF population. Very few absolute exclusion criteria exist and it is expected that most couples considering IVF are candidates for the guarantee. Reasons that may limit participation are 1) baseline FSH above 10, evidence of significant compromise of egg numbers. 2) Very low sperm counts below the number in which sperm injection should offer favorable outcome, or need for direct sperm aspiration, and 3) significant pelvic or uterine abnormalities that might compromise pregnancy chances.

More than three pregnancy losses in the first twelve weeks can be a cause of exclusion.

Previous lack of fertilization, low responses to stimulation or repeated failure in our or any other IVF program usually will be cause of exclusion.

Smoking and obesity are known causes of lower IVF success, but are not generally considered reasons for exclusion in the C.A.R.S. program. It is expected that the couple attempt to optimize lifestyle, not only for the increased chances of IVF success, but also a healthier pregnancy and child.

Costs for sperm freezing or the cost of frozen donor sperm preparation is not included in the guarantee program, but use of donor sperm from a licensed sperm bank by a couple is not excluded.

Special testing that may include an ultrasound scan, determination of FSH level, semen analysis, and infectious disease screening on both partners is not included. In some cases a more detailed anatomic evaluation, which may include testing to see if the tubes are open, and/or evaluation of the uterus by laparoscopy, hysteroscopy or hysterography is not included. Cost of early pregnancy monitoring or treatment of pregnancy loss is not included, but is usually covered by insurance.

Charges for monitoring or administration of therapy at other physician offices other than C.A.R.S. Johnson City or Asheville cannot be included.

As with all assisted reproductive therapies and regardless of the guarantee program, situations or complications may arise where third party professional services, medical treatment, medications or laboratory studies may be required. These are almost always covered by a general medical insurance and are excluded from the guarantee program.

Refund:
If a situation develops that is outside the control or expectation of either the C.A.R.S. physician or couple that prevents completion of the agreements, the couple can request a complete 100% refund of the contract amount less any expenses that may have been incurred outside the provisions of the guarantee. Examples for stopping therapy may include the determination after one cycle that the chances are so low for a pregnancy that additional attempts are unwarranted, a move outside the area where travel seems not feasible, financial hardship, or intervening medical conditions. This list is not all-inclusive.

A refund will be made within 14 days of request. All frozen embryos must be utilized before a refund will be issued. Request for refund must be made within 30 days of IVF failure. A negative blood test at C.A.R.S. may be required before the refund is issued. Refund may be applied to additional IVF cycles or to egg/embryo donation at the patient's discretion.

Also see IVF Financial Information, IVF Fees, More IVF

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