Looking for Recs - where would you go...

Hi All -

My sister has been struggling with infertility. She was seeing Palter at Gold Coast, went though a fresh IVF cycle and the Frozen transfer - both failed.

She decided to see Dr. San Roman - period came last week and he wants to try an IUI based on the records he looked at from Palter - she is in the process of that now.

She just found out San Roman is no longer covered under her insurance so she is going to pay for the IUI costs OOP - which isnt too bad.

Yet she has 18K left of fertility coverage which kicks in 4/1 - so if the IUI is unsuccessful, she will have to switch Dr's again in order to use the 18K. The 18K is a lifetime benefit, so this would pretty much be her last shot of IVF with coverage - If the cycle fails again, any future procedures will have to be OOP.

The clinics that are covered for her UHC plan are:

LI IVF
RSNY
RMA
Cornell
Columbia

She is so incredibly conflicted. Based solely on reviews online, you read positives and negatives for all.

I guess I'm just looking for some honest opinions - if you had one shot for a paid cycle of IVF, where would go?

I really appreciate any and all feedback!

My heart breaks for her as well as anyone struggling with infertility...so completely unfair.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I did not have a good experience with RSNY so I wouldn't recommend there.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I can only speak from personal experience, since I haven't been to the other practices, but I had a great experience with RMA. Both of my children and my niece are RMA babies.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I used RMA of philadelphia. they came highly recommended by 3 friends who were successful with RMA of NJ.

Now, while i was NOT successful with RMA, I really loved my dr there. His bedside manner was great,very nice to talk to, appreciated the fact that I asked questions and was always happy to answer them. the nurses there were great too (well except for one I wasnt crazy about).

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I would switch to Cornell.. one of the best labs in the world.

Looking for Recs - where would you go...

The 18k will probably last more than one cycle because insurance pays the negotiated rate. Like if IVF is 15k somewhere out of pocket insurance pays less. That 18k may pay for 2 ivfs.

I haven't used any of those clinics on her list. If SIRM is an option but you didn't list it I'd 100% go there. Out of those I've heard good things about RMA. I didn't check them out because they didn't take my insurance. It also depends on her diagnosis. I needed a think outside place with immune testing that's why I switched to SIRM. She needs to go somewhere that specializes in her needs. She can always set up a couple of consults and bring her records and see what plan they suggest.

Looking for Recs - where would you go...

The negotiated rate will get her way more than 1 cycle. Probably at least 2-4 cycles. We had UHC $15K max and did 3 cycles and still have a decent amount of money left.

We used RMA. We were dealing with severe male factor infertility. We had done 2 cycles elsewhere with no luck. RMA was literally our last try and we now have an amazing 3 year old boy.

Best of luck to your sister!!!

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

Thank you so much everyone for all the feedback!

She set up consults with Cornell and RMA and may go see Dr. Brenner at LI IVF as well - and I guess she will see who she gets the best feeling with.

Good to know that the fertility coverage could last for a few more cycles. When she was seeing Palter, his cycles were very expensive, possibly because its a private practice.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

Looking for Recs - where would you go...

If Cornell is in-network, that’s where I’d recommend going. It’s got one of the top labs and some of the top REs in the country.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I went to Cornell and had success.

I think Cornell and RMA are the most reputable out of all of those.

Re: Looking for Recs - where would you go...

I Had 15K in lifetime fertility benefits thru Aetna and it covered two cycles with RMA. My pharma coverage was also 15K and that was maxed out in the first cycle. (Follistim is about $1000-$1500 a 900IU vial and i needed like 5 vials the first cycle; then the menopur was also ridiculous priced).

The 2nd cycle I had meds left over, some were covered b/c they are not specific to IVF, and I had some meds donated from here (the follistim and menopur). The injectibles are so much $$.