Table 2.
Current pathways for access to infertility care
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance coverage | -Trend towards increasing coverage among insurance plans | -State limitations |
| -Institution of state mandates increasing coverage | -Requirements and/or pre-authorizations before certain tests or treatment | |
| Public hospitals | -Offers workup and treatment to otherwise unserved population | -Often limited reimbursement to providers/clinic/hospital limiting feasibility |
| -Limited care | ||
| Foundation grants and scholarships | -Patient can access treatment for low/no cost | -Requires paperwork and navigation of submission system |
| -Many programs in place | -Not guaranteed, few of those who apply receive funds | |
| Fertility financing programs | -Often lower interest rates than other financing programs | -High cost of care remains unchanged |
| Sliding scale clinics, mini-IVF | -Lower cost treatment | -Not available at all centers |
| -Not all patients are candidates for mini-IVF | ||
| -Remains expensive |