Clinics offering refunds in SoCal?

[moonchild508]

Does anyone know an IVF clinic that offers refunds for unsuccessful DE cycles or has some kind of guarantee programs in Orange County, California? It seems like there are such clinics back east, but not too many on the west coast. Thanks in advance!

[isiskea]

Moonchild: I heard of NoCal: http://www.goivf.com/financial_plans/index.php4

[Mom_2_One]

Hi Sorry,
Wish I could help...I was looking at Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine. They are in OC. They supposedly offer very competitive rates. I plan to call them on Monday http://www.socalfertility.com/ivf-success-rate.html

Also, you may want to check with the San Diego Fertility center if you have not already. I think that they have some sort of guarantee program. I'm also looking for good and resonably priced clinics in So. Cal for DE. Please post if you find something good.

I am willing to travel if the conditions are right. I was just looking at Oregon Reproductive Medicine. They have a 95% success rate with DE IVF!!! That sounds like a guarantee too me. I'm calling them on Monday too.
Good luck!
-Victoria

[moonchild508]

Mom 2 one - I am considering Dr. Lin at Reproductive Fertility Center in Irvine. Their DE success rate is high - 100% as of April/May this year; I'm not sure what it is now. You might want to give them a call.

I can only go to certain REs because I have HMO. If I go with an RE that's outside the network, the process would be more complicated and might be more costly. Can you let me know how your conversation with SCCRM goes on Monday? I'd be interested in what their fees are. Thanks much.

[Mom_2_One]

Hi Moonchild,
I have still not been able to speak with the financial coordinator at SCCRM. Hopfully someone will call tomorrow. I cant' make a decision until I've spoken with them.

I am considering working with one of two proven donors offered to me that cycled with Dr. Sahakian at Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles. They have a respectable DE-IVF success rate; although not as good as Dr. Lin's; my God! I'm looking at donors at RFC now. Thanks for the tip!

I spoke with the financial coordinator at Pacific Fertility center today.
For the medical portion of the DE-IVF they charge just over 12K. For 18K they will provide 3 fresh cycles; the 3 cycle offer dosen't work for me because I don't want to keep going through donors (can't afford that). The donor I'm really leaning toward has already had 4 successful cycles. If we can't have a baby with her, then I"M DONE (lol). The clinic will give me a discount because I had a referral though the egg D agency. Maybe you coud inquire about that too since in a way, I'm referring you! I thought there prices were very, very, fair and Dr. S is in network for me. Everyone I've spoken to there has been very nice and responsive.

Good luck in finding the right situation. I'll post again once I've spoken to SCCRM. Waiting to the calls is kind of hard....
-Victoria

[moonchild508]

Victoria - does PFC have their own donor pool? Thanks for the tips. I like the 3-cycle price, but you are right, the donor fee (and agency fee if you use an agency) is just as expensive as the procedure itself.

Hope you get to speak to SCCRM soon!

[Mom_2_One]

Hi Moonchild,
I don't know if PFC has their own donor pool because I am using an agency that referred us to the clinic.

Also, some donor agencies will provide you with a new donor and not charge more fees if it your first donor cycle is unsuccessful. However, you would probably need to repay an new donor fee and also legal, screening etc...
-Victoria

[Mom_2_One]

Hi Moonchild,
I spoke with two different financial coordinators at SCCRM. They are definitely willing to work with people. Both this cliincs and Dr. Lin's provided me the lowest quote of all of the clincs I've spoken with so far. They have a package at SCCRM that is very reasonable and it covers LOTS of procedures; including ICSI and cryopreservation.

Speaking of Dr. Lin, do you have any idea of where their stats are posted? I could not find them on the SARTS database. I plan to call and ask more about their numbers this week. At this point I am torn between a donor that I could cycle with at RFC and a donor that I'd work with at SCCRM. Where are you in the selection process? GL with all.
-Victoria

[moonchild508]

Victoria - You can find Dr Lin's stats on CDC = http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ART/FCT.aspx?SelectedYear=2007. You'll have to enter the info requested. The most recent data is 2007. I'm trying to switch to Dr Lin, but my insurance hasn't authorized it yet. I haven't chosen a donor and can't cycle for at least another month. A donor that we are interested might be matched this week, so we'll have to wait til January if we want to use her. Are you ready to move forward as soon as you decide on a donor? Can you tell me the cost of the package at SCCRM?

[Mom_2_One]

Hi Moon,
I hope that you get to work with Dr. Lin and your preferred donor (sooner rather than later). I appreciate your telling me about him. His clinic and associated agency have been life savers already. Also, thanks for sending the SARTs link. I was able to find his clinic on the site earlier today too.

The agency that works with SCCRM has our preferred donor. It was SO hard letting go of the possibility to cycle with her, but compared to Dr. Lin (and other clinics), I simply was NOT impressed with SCCRMs SARTs. They don't look good at all for DE-IVF. That's why even though they have "my dream donor", I'm going with Dr. Lin. And I do like our "second choice" donor A LOT.

SCCRM charges less than $12K for donor/recipient monitoring, doctor's fees, ICSI, hatching, anesthesia, surgery center fees, cryosp). They also get a break on the price of FDA donor screening. Overall, I thought that this was a very fair price.

If for some reason your insurance does not allow you to work with Dr. Lin, are there other clinics in LA or OC that are in network for you that may have better stats than SCCRM? It is also possible that the numbers at the clinic have come up in the past couple of years. I have decided not to inquire. I also chose not to work with them because I am AA and they do not have a single back up donor for me should our cycle become stalled for some reason (They told me that they would take up to 60 days to find me a new donor if ours flaked or got canceled; ouch).

Good luck and let me know how it's going.