This is strictly out of curiosity after hearing of a lesbian couple wanting to do this. So, I wonder what is the breakdown of the cost(s) - is it one all-inclusive flat rate, or is it piecemeal (i.e.: sperm bank fee, actual procedure, doctor’s fee,) And, would insurance cover this, in general AND in this particular case?
This site has the following pricing:
It would seem you could do the procedure at home. If you’re going for intra-uterine then you need a doctor and I have no idea of those costs…call you doctor.
I’d be VERY surprised to learn that insurance paid for any of this. Indeed, insurance companies don’t want pregnant women on their rolls since it guarantees a string of hospital visits and the possibility of complications that could really skyrocket costs. It makes me wonder that more of them don’t offer to pay for birth control.
regarding insurance coverage, along the lines of what whack-a-mole said - the more successful the reproductive medicine practice is, the less likely it is that insurance will cover it. Certain policies will cover the medications, which can be very expensive.
The costs of artificial insemination can vary from dinner for the donor plus a turkey baster all the way to multiple cash-only reproductive medicine cycles where the sky’s the limit. It depends on the situation.
Wanna go cheap? It’s the cost of the cover charge at a seedy or high class bar. Sometimes you can even get in free.
Cover price at a bar? Ha! Show up in a college dorm in a see-through shirt and a tiger-striped bikini. Look cute. No money involved.
<aside> My company’s insurance plan just doubled in price, and the two added features are that they will now pay for visits to a licensed acupuncturist, and fertility assistance.
I am very disamused with this, as all three of our possible insurance plans don’t have an option to choose NO coverage on that. I don’t think it’s fair for me to spend money to pay for other people’s desires to have children, when that results in me being poorer and thus LESS able to have children of my own and support them. At least, if I want to pay for someone’s kids, I’d FAR rather pay for kids that are already here.
Fertility assistance is covered 80%. Birth control pills are covered 50%. That’s hooey, if you ask me.
Corr, the Un-Pregnant
What ever the cost, it is a whole lot cheaper than keeping a bull, and much safer.
Lesbians? Oh, that kind of AI. No shoulder length rubber glove?
Never mind. Pay no attention…
Hiya
Interestingly, a dyke couple I know were keen to have a little kiddie of their own. After some deliberation, they got a gay male friend to donate some sperm at their house. They used a syringe (with no needle, of course!), to insert the semen, and it turns out it “took” first time. A few months back, she had twin boys. Currently, everybody is happy with the arrnagements.
Ain’t life grand?
Total cost? About $1.50AU, for the syringe. I am torn between thinking, “gee, that’s a little irresponsible!”, and “good on 'em for bucking the establishment!”.
abby
I know of a few doctors who get really cheesed off at the “turkey baster” approach. I’ve never been able to get them to say what the problem with the do-it-yourself approach is. All sorts of excuses about “health of the mother” and “health of the donor” and STD’s – but we all know the real reason is they aren’t making money off it.
I, too, have strong objections to being forced to pay for fertility assistance. If, by chance, you can’t (or won’t) have children the old-fashioned way then YOU pay for it, and if the price is steep… well, if you can’t pony up for the conception how the heck are you going to pay for food, clothing, medical care, and higher education for the tyke? We do not have a people shortage and society does not need to subsidize your reproduction.
Birth control for free or little, no subsidy of fertility assistance!