Céline Dion gets congratulations! She's 14 weeks pregnant, with twins, after her sixth IVF treatment cycle. In an online article for People Magazine, she is quoted as saying she feels like she's been pregnant for "over a year", and her husband says, "These treatments were truly hard on my wife's body. It wasn't simple at all."
No doubt Celine and her husband went through the ups and downs that all of us go through when trying to conceive and facing the reality of fertility treatments. I was glad to see her speak about this difficulty, as well, since so few people talk about it.
That said, celebrities who face infertility have at least one less worry than the typical fertility patient, and it's a big one - and that's the financial stress.
In the People Magazine article, it states that Céline Dion traveled to New York (from her Florida home) for the fertility treatments, and that she also received acupuncture treatments in Montreal.
I suspect not just any fertility clinic or just any doctor treated her. I imagine her acupuncturist was also the best available. Plus, she went through six IVF treatment cycles - six!
If we assume she paid at least $15,000 per cycle (going with the upper average for IVF, not including any special additions like ICSI or egg donors, which can jack the price up to $20,000 or more per cycle), then after six cycles, she might have spent $90,000.
Plus travel expense. Plus acupuncture treatments. I'd bet the grand total may be over $100,000.
Who has that kind of money? Celebrities. The very, very, very rich.
But infertility isn't a disease that targets only the ones who can pay the bill. In fact, the high costs of infertility often stop a couple from reaching their dreams. That's just unfair.
I'm very happy for Celine Dion, and I think it's wonderful she's pregnant finally. I'm also excited for her future twins, and I'm super pleased that she has been open about her infertility experience.
That said, I can't help but think about all those non-celebrities who might get pregnant after six cycles of IVF treatment, from the very best clinics and doctors available, who can't - all because of money.
Are you listening insurance companies? Congress? It's time to make having a baby an "equal opportunity" life event. Time to start treating infertility like a disease, and offering proper treatment to those affected.
Are you with me? Leave your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!
More on IVF:
We completely agree with this premise. Sher Institute will soon be launching IVF financing where couples can have three tries at IVF for under 20 thousand dollars in total. They only need to pay a portion up front – between $8-10 thousand for all three and can finance the rest to be paid over five years. And if they don’t get a baby within three tries they get the rest of the money less the down payment back. And it includes ICSI, etc. This is part of the Sher Institute Giving Back Program.
Hi, Rachel:
Great blog post and so true about the unfair financial burden that most infertile couples must endure. In Massachusetts, we are very fortunate to have the gold standard for infertility insurance coverage in the U.S., but we (RESOLVE of New England) have been seeing backlash from people who don’t want the insurance system to pay for mandated benefits like infertility treatment and who have been unfairly targeting infertility as the reason for Massachusetts’ high health care costs. It’s quite disturbing. So even though we have the mandate, advocacy efforts still must continue. In fact, we are pushing for legislation (Senate Bill 485) that would update the 25-year-old definition of infertility in the current bill. Insurance companies use the old definition as a loophole to deny coverage for recurrent miscarriage or make women 35 and older reset the clock to another year of trying if they get pregnant and miscarry.
I would love to know how the Israeli health care system pays for treatment and how Israeli society views infertility treatment — I’ve been told they regard it very positively. Can we correspond about this offline? I am writing something about this and could use your input.
Again, thanks for great article.
Terri
Thank you for the article!
Lisa S, will there be an age limit? My clinic offers a similar shared risk package but unfortunately I’m just over the age limit.
Terri
I live in Israel and have had 8 IVF treatments here. The first 3 were private as I didn’t have enough time on my medical insurance but the last 5 were paid for by the health system which is part government funded and part self funded. If you need any information feel free to contact me. By the way I have 1 son and am currently pregnant with twins (all from IVF ICSI)
Katie
My husband and I took 8 treatments of IVF/ICSI with super immune drugs like humira/IVIG/LIT therapy and Intralipids. The only reason we were able to fund our treatments was because we are both in the RAF and paying pennies for our rent and not thousands on a mortgage each month. That said, the total cost of all 8 cycles was £50,000 sterling. We struggled, had no holidays for 4 years and will be paying off the debt for some time to come. We only got 1 free treatment on the NHS and feel the UK treat unfortunate couples with infertility problems like leppars. Even after writing to our MP to ask for a contribution towards the very expensive immune drugs I needed to ensure implantation I received a ‘Cut & Paste’ letter back saying I wasn’t entitled and that immune therapy was contraversial and unproven in this country so they wouldn’t recognise it. Well we have a beautiful daughter now and after our 9th cycle, a baby boy due in Aug 2010 so is proof that immune therapy is needed for women with high Natural Killer cell activity. Shame on my country for discriminating against couples with major infertility problems.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this! I only suffered through infertility for 3 years before enduring a mere 6 months of treatment. I got lucky, and after IUI failed repeatedly, IVF/ICSI worked on the very first try and I now have beautiful twin daughters to show for it. If only infertility was recognized as the disease it is! My heart goes out to those whose dreams of parenthood are crushed because of the expense. If my first IVF round had been unsuccessful, my dreams of being a mother would never have become reality. We saved for years for our one shot and got lucky that my insurance covered IUI so at least we could go that route first. Hopefully, someone is listening and will make progress in this area so more infertile couples can have the success of celebrities with the same problems.
Nice article.
The acupuncturist who touched Celine with magic needle is my wife – Aina Zhang.
See our website for detail.
Articles which tout the efficacy of acupuncture but fail to mention the frequently high price tags can leave many people feeling hopeful that acupuncture will help them…and then disappointed that they can’t afford it.
But what the articles fail to mention is that Community Acupuncturists offer affordable, effective services for as little as $15. With over 150 Community Acupuncture clinics in North America all offering affordable services, acupuncture is no longer limited to boutique settings for socialites.
Check-out http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/clinics to find a clinic near you.
Finally someone addressed the truth about infertility that I myself know all too well! After 3 surgeries, 3 IVF and 3 artificial inseams. Nothing.
We have spent more on these treatments than we make in a year. With no help from our Ins. Co. that we both have. Just not right nor fair!!!
Wow this article so got my attention. I’ve gone thru 2 fresh IVF cycle’s and 1 frozen and nothing yet. We just switched doctors and will be going for treatment at the end of the month. Hopefully we have a positive outcome. Amazing how insurances don’t want to pay for atleast a part of the cycle. We need help!!!!!
I so agree with this article. My husband and I too have been struggling with infertility for 8 years now. We have gone through 2 surgerys, 8 IUI’s, a miscarriage, and now 2 IVF treatment. All has failed and we had no help from our insurance company. It’s like they think that having a family is not a necessity. Obviously they have never felt the despiration of not being able to conceive. Now that we are so in debt trying to pay thousands of dollars off we can’t aford to do any more treatments or adopt. When will the insurance companies realize that infertilty is a diesease and there customers need help?
You are very right my dear in thinking that fertility treatment should be affordable to all. I am a case study. For over a year now, i’ve diagnosed to have tubal problem and so needed a surgery, but believe i’ve not been able to gather the money for the surgery. Its so sad, i hope something can be done about it.
Thanks for sharing our concern.
I completely agree. My husband and I are good citizens. We stayed out of trouble, went to college, and lead clean and productive lives. Unfortunately, we have tried for 6 years to conceive with little success (drugs, IUI, miscarriage, surgeries). I have PCOS, a condition that has nothing to do with my lifestyle or eating habits and I am at the point now where IVF is my only option. It really sickens me that I will never be able to start a family with my husband because I can’t afford to pay $20,000 or more to conceive. The only thing standing between me and my dream to become a mother is money, yet the insurance companies will pay for gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries because people can’t/won’t control their poor eating habits! It is not right!
Celine Dion’s IVF doc tor was Dr.Rosenwaks. The very best in the world.
This is true for ALL areas of life, not just fertility. This just happens to be the topic of choice. You could say the same thing about private education or private healthcare in general. It’s a moot topic.
I have been stuggling with infertility for 10+ years and was fortunate enough to have conceived, my son is now seven, But my husband and I have been trying for a second time. I have submitted myself through 3 failed ivf’s and was told to give it up. My insurance will no longer cover infertility, it is being removed from every insurance plan that is offered through my job. I feel that our family would be complete with atleast one more child but we do not have the money to continue with treatment especially since it will no longer be covered.
Yes, infertility is heartbreaking enough, and the financial aspect just adds insult to injury. I work at a company that consistently earns the award as one of the ‘Best Companies for Working Mothers’…..but covers absolutely no infertility treatments. Sure that’s great for those that are lucky enough to conceive naturally, they have a great place to work while they raise their kids. Unfortunately for those of us who aren’t so lucky, we continue to work this ‘wonderful’ place, have to experience grueling fertility treatments and pay out of our own pockets!
I couldn’t agree more. I am a teacher in the state of Florida and becuase our medical coverage considers infertility a luxury, my husband and I can not afford IVF.
Because of the money I couldn’t try it any more. I don’t have any more money, I am not just lucky. I spend my whole savings and efforts and time. Now I am so depressed. I don’t want to do anything. Life is so boaring. I spend lot of hard earning money. Where is god? This is not fair. Why god is do favour only rich people?