IVF in another state, but monitoring in my state??

[blueyezz4]

So we found a IVF place in MI (Grand Rapids area) that does IVF's at a better price than here in OH so we started to look into it. Anyways, the nurse said I could do my monitoring in OH and then just come there for a couple appts which would include the Retrieval and Transfer. Anyone ever done an IVF out of state, but monitored in your home town? It all sounds pretty good, but I can't imagine my fertility dr wanting to let me do blood work and u/s in her office, but not have my IVF there? The good thing would be that my insurance would pay for the blood work and u/s if i had them done here. We will see. Seems like an interesting concept!

[gumby74]

I think it is more common than you think. In the end.....the fertility doctor is also a business and is running it as such. When presented with the cost difference, he might be willing to decrease his charges to match those that you are about to pay in Michigan. DH and I did our IUI's out of state because it was cheaper and all the monitoring in state. Where I live now, there are lots of people who travel out of state for the IVF and have all of the montitoring done in state. In particiular to a clinic that offers a money back guarantee if they aren't able to get you pg after three cycles. The doctors you are working with have to understand that it is an expensive process and you are going to do what is best for your situation. What about having you reg OB do some of the monitoring???

Oh, and I forgot to say that the fertiltiy doc is there to provide a service as well......which, could just be the monitoring and US.

[poetgirl]

PM me! I did IVF in Grand Rapids! In fact, when you posted the thread about IVF overseas I almost suggested our place instead because it is run on more of a European model--as a nonprofit. I wonder if we have the same place. If so, I would be happy to tell you anything you might need to know. The month I did it, they had a crazy success rate, like 70%.

[goldfinches]

I've done some testing in MD while cycling in IL or IN. All my RE did was give an order to wherever I was going - actually, I did bloodwork in the local hospital's outpatient lab. They didn't have a problem with it at all.

I've never used one RE for monitoring and another for transfer, though. I can see how that would kindof annoy the local RE.

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by goldfinches

I've done some testing in MD while cycling in IL or IN. All my RE did was give an order to wherever I was going - actually, I did bloodwork in the local hospital's outpatient lab. They didn't have a problem with it at all.

I've never used one RE for monitoring and another for transfer, though. I can see how that would kindof annoy the local RE.

Yeah, I know!!! The out of town place made it seem like they do it every now and they are the 2nd place I've found that does that actually, but I'm a little nervous to ask them tomorrow, but will since it would save us $$$ if it would work out. We will see. Fingers crossed!!!!

[lesliesara63]

The RE I work with is partnered with an RE in a large teaching hospital three hours away. All of his IVF patients do stims & monitoring with him and then go there for ER and transfer. He isn't equipped to do so at his clinic. Another RE in our city does IVF but meets you in another city four hours away. At first I thought that was great that he does it all. But no one can do everything. The cost of him doing IVF also is that he can't manage his IUI patients individually. He only does IUI patients on a group schedule which sucks. That's why I'm with the other RE. Maybe the clinic in MI can recommend an RE for monitoring that they have worked with?

[blueyezz4]

lesliesara63 - that is a great idea, but i have to stay within network for my insurance to pay for the bloodwork and U/S's. They don't cover anything else so it would be nice to at least have them pay for that which helps a little!!!! So i basically only have one choice and if they say no, then either we have to pay out of pocket or go to plan B.