Financial Assistance and Grants for IVF Medications

Hello Again!


I recently posted about the cost of IVF here. My husband and I applied for the discount medication programs First Steps by Design Rx and EMD Serono's Compassionate Care program. We were notified via e-mail from First Steps that we did not qualify financially to receive any assistance, but we received a membership card that gives us access to 'up to 30% the cost of retail IVF medications.' I'm always leery of the word 'up-to' because that usually indicates it's much lower than 30%.

I then had to call Compassionate Care as it was going on a week (we were told they have fast response times) and the nice woman on the phone told me that our application had been rejected because our income fell outside the limits of those who qualify. I of course asked her, well what level of income would I have needed to qualify and she said that they don't provide that information.

I'm sorry, but to apply for these programs I had to provide our most recent tax return. You're telling me I showed you my cards, and you won't show me yours?
This leads me to believe that the income level for these programs must be low if they won't share with me. Maybe these programs are some sort of PR stunt for the big pharma companies to be like, "look at our wonderful program we have to help those in need." A$$holes.

Anyway, Compassionate Care (ironic name right?) said they mailed our rejection letter and included a code in there for us to receive 'UP-TO' a 10% MAIL-IN rebate after we make our purchases. At least First Steps gives us the illusion that it could possibly be 30%. And who likes a mail-in rebate? I think they're bull$hit.

So that's where we are with our pharmaceutical discounts.


Just to break it down, here is a list of medications that a Frist Steps Discount will help you buy:

• Follistim^® (follitropin beta for injection)
• Ganirelix^® (ganirelix acetate for injection)
• Pregynl

For Compassionate Care:

• Gonal-f^® (follitropin alfa for injection)
• Ovidrel^® PreFilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection)
• Cetrotide^® (cetrorelix acetate for injection)

I looked into grants for treatment, and there are some out there, but they have very specific criteria. Still, you may want to look into them because you may qualify.