My year-end win is actually a lifetime win. My husband and I have been struggling to start a family for years. After several rounds of fertility treatments failed, our doctor concluded that IVF was our only hope for biological children. Unfortunately, our insurance didn’t cover the procedure, and the price tag was over $30,000 for a single round.
Knowing that many couples require multiple rounds of IVF before they conceive and that many others aren’t ultimately successful, I wasn’t willing to risk all of our savings on something that might only lead to heartbreak. I thought our dream of having a family had come to an end.
But then a friend recommended that I look at fertility clinics outside the United States. After a lot of research, I found a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico that offered three rounds of IVF for $20,000 with an included insurance policy that refunded 75% of our costs if we were unsuccessful.
Knowing that we were getting three rounds of IVF plus the insurance policy gave my husband and me the confidence to say yes and make this big investment. We are also fortunate to live in San Diego, just a 45-minute drive from the border. The IVF process was difficult, and so was crossing the border dozens of times during the experience, but it was all worth it.
Earlier this month, I gave birth to twins. My husband and I are sleep-deprived but overjoyed to finally have the family we’ve been trying for over so many years.
ChooseFI teaches us to think differently and to find opportunities that others may overlook. Over 15 million people live close to the border with Mexico, where many medical costs are much lower than in the United States. I’m hoping my story can help others struggling with the astronomical costs of IVF know that there are always other options.
— Jessica