How much does artificial insemination cost? home insemination, ICI, IUI cost and insurance

Last Updated on December 22, 2020

Artificial insemination includes a number of different procedures including intracervical insemination (ICI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). These methods aid in assisting with conception but can cost a fair bit if there is no insurance coverage.

Average cost for artificial insemination and IUI

The expenses incurred for the different procedures varies as the procedures are different themselves. Here’s a quick breakdown of how much each procedure can cost.

At home insemination

This procedure does not require the services of a doctor and is the simplest to carry out. There are at home insemination kits available which women hoping to conceive can get over-the-counter. Typical prices for these can range anywhere between $25 to $150.

People who are looking for privacy or are on a budget may choose to try this option first, but since this is an OTC option, the entire amount will come out-of-pocket.

Intracervical insemination

More expensive than at home insemination, ICI is carried out in a clinical setting where a doctor places a sperm directly inside the cervix using a special syringe. Without insurance, patients can expect to pay between $200 -$350 per cycle. This price tag implies that the sperm is coming from the intended father and not an unknown donor.

• If donor sperm is involved, it will raise the cost of ICI.
• Typical success rates for ICI can range from 5% to 30% so, patients should expect to pay between $600 and $4,000 for their treatment.
• If the doctor recommends other treatments to improve the chance of conception, it will also add to the total cost if the procedure.

Intrauterine insemination

In the United States, the average cost of an IUI cycle can range between $300 and $800 per attempt. This price estimate applies when using the spouse’s sperm. IUI with donor sperm cost takes the price up to $700- $1,000 per vial. This is only a national average and treatment costs will vary significantly based on quite a few variables. However, with IUI there are a number of optional services that will increase this cost manifold.

For instance, if your treatment regimen requires the use of infertility medication, it will add to the total average. Or, if you decide to go with donor sperm, the previous figure will jump up quite a bit. Likewise, if your insurance does not cover artificial insemination, then you will end up having to pay all the expenses upfront.

• When using donor sperm, the cost can multiply to thousands of dollars when factors like identity profile, infectious disease testing, storage and shipping are considered.
• Gender selection costs can add a potential $1,600 to the price tag.
• Injectable medications start at $50 per vial but since more than a single injection is often required this cost can also add up.
• At best, IUI presents a 10-20% chance of success so most patients need more than one cycle.

Other factors like where you live or work, plus if your state mandate covers artificial insemination or not will also hike up the total average.

IUI cost in the US states

If you are looking to get an exact quote for artificial insemination costs by searching online, chances are that you won’t find it published on many websites. In fact, most fertility centers in the US do not advertise the prices for services online but discuss the fee structure based on individual cases via an in-person consultation.

In addition, the cost of IUI also varies from one fertility center to the next. Centers will also charge for the use of additional medication and the experience of their doctors. In general, if there are only a few fertility centers where you live, you may have to pay a higher fee than in locations where there are more facilities.

The best quote that you can get online is an estimate for artificial insemination state-wise, with figures reflecting an average of costs of clinics in that state. For an exact amount, you will need to call the clinic and set up an appointment.

Here is a breakdown of average basic IUI costs calculated in 30 US states, based on service prices published by some clinics. Also, note that for states that do not provide infertility treatment coverage, all costs will have to come out-of-pocket.

Additional Factors That Affect Cost for Artificial Insemination

Whether it is artificial insemination or any other kind of infertility treatment procedure, most treatment options have a number of additional factors that can hike the price up for the treatment. In the case of ICI and IUI, some factors that can change the expenses drastically include the following:

Use of fertility medications

Artificial insemination may be performed with or without medication. For a natural IUI cycle, there is no medication to induce follicle development. The only thing here is that even though it is a natural cycle, hCG medication may be administered to synchronize the release of the arrival with the arrival of the sperm.

But in a medicated IUI cycle, fertility drugs are used to stimulate the body to mature and ovulate multiple drugs. The use of such drugs improves the chance of pregnancy than artificial insemination done without any medication. Some studies show that this chance can increase up to three-fold when compared to treatments without the use of fertility drugs. The most common drugs used for assisting with artificial insemination are clomid and letrozole.

Clomid

Clomid is relatively inexpensive when compared to other fertility drugs and can range from $9 to $150 depending on dosage and whether you use a generic of brand name. For the generic version, you can get ten 50 mg clomiphene oral tablets priced at around $25 and a pack of thirty tablets for around $50. Prices will also vary from pharmacy to pharmacy with discount cards and promotions in place.

For the branded version, clomid can cost around $450 for a supply of 30 tablets. This price is for cash paying customers and not valid with insurance plans.

Letrozole

Generic letrozole is available in 2.5 mg oral tablets starting around the $100 mark for a pack of 30 tablets. This medication also goes by the brand name of Femara which can cost you $742 for a pack of 30 oral tablets. Once again, this price is for cash paying customers and not valid with insurance plans.

This price can also range slightly based on where you purchase your medication.

The use of medication, (apart from its purchasing price), can cost a patient between $500 to $700 when done under clinical monitoring involving ultrasound.

Injectable medications for IUI can cost between $2,000 and $4,000.

Monitoring and bloodwork

This is done to ascertain that the follicles containing eggs mature at the correct rate and don’t present the risk of multiple births. Cost of fertility-related blood tests can range between $200 and $400. Once, again this price bracket will vary depending on where you get the testing done.

Donor sperm

This option is often considered by women who are single or those in a same-sex relationship. Other couples who may suffer from severe, untreatable male factor infertility may also opt for this option. Here, male partners typically have no recoverable sperm. Another group who consider donor sperm IUI is when the male partners may have some transferable disease.

Where IUI is covered by insurance, it usually implies that the sperm comes from the woman’s husband and is considered part of the coverage. But where donor sperm is involved, there is an additional cost attached with it. The cost can vary significantly based on where you get the sperm from, such as which sperm bank. If you want to have specific testing or screening done that will also factor in and then there is the cost of storage and preservation.

Published success rates of using donor sperm for IUI for women under 40 years are at about 10-15% per cycle. After six months of inseminations, around 50% of women get pregnant. And after 3-6 unsuccessful cycles doctors will likely recommend a different procedure to try.

Typical costs for donor sperm can vary significantly but a vial generally costs anywhere between $900 to $1,000. Throw in the insemination procedure for another $300-$500 (or higher) per attempt and you’re looking at an approximate figure of between $1,200 and $2,000 for a single insemination.

Additional charges apply for having donors screened and the prices range vastly for different clinics.

Artificial insemination and IUI covered by insurance

17 states with an infertility mandate provide some kind of coverage for infertility issues. However, even this warrants thorough investigation as every state comes with its own laws, exclusions, and unique rules.

Many health insurance plans cover assisted reproductive technology procedures including IUI where the state mandate requires it. But every company issue different plans with some falling under the mandate and others not so much. If you live in a state with no mandate, it’s very possible that your insurer may not offer any fertility treatment at all and all expenses will have to come out-of-pocket.

State law for artificial insemination

The following states offer an infertility mandate but coverage for artificial insemination varies as given:

How can you save on IUI costs?

If you are going to go for artificial insemination treatment via a fertility clinic, you will be looking at estimated expenses as mentioned above. Once again, the cost will vary from clinic to clinic and even from one specialist to the next. Additional costs will also seesaw based on the procedure and if any additional services are required.

Sometimes, couples try at-home insemination which can save a lot of money. This is a simple procedure which does not need the services of a medical professional and can be carried out using over-the-counter insemination kits. These kits can range in price from $25- $125 and make an ideal fit for anyone who wants privacy or have budget constraints.

However, since the chance of any success with artificial insemination is highly dependent on ovulation timing, couples trying at-home insemination will need to monitor the process closely. And even though some have been successful in conceiving via this method, it does not offer a guarantee for conception for many.

Another somewhat more expensive method than at-home insemination but still less expensive than IUI is intracervical insemination (ICI). This method looks at placing the sperm sample in the cervix instead of the uterus.

The procedure is carried out by a fertility specialist in a clinical setting and comes with the usual clinic fee structure, but comes at a lower cost than IUI. The least expensive option involves simply placing the sperm inside the cervix. If there are other considerations such as using donor sperm, it will hike up the price as expected.