“How much does In Vitro Fertilization cost?” is one of the first questions people ask after finding out that IVF is their recommended treatment course. It’s a reasonable question, considering that most people don’t have the thousands of dollars IVF costs just sitting around, burning a hole in their pockets. A lucky few, however, may have invested in a healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which can be used to pay for the IVF treatment. Money in a healthcare FSA is pre-tax, and therefore the money spent from a healthcare FSA can go further than money that has already been taxed. Many people have relied on their healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts to pay for IVF, and many are counting on it to be available for their future fertility treatment.

In Vitro Fertilization Cost – How Will ObamaCare Affect It?

A healthcare Flexible Spending Account provides immediate tax savings for un-reimbursed infertility expenses. The limit to the amount a person could contribute to their healthcare FSA was set by their employer. Some set small limits, while others allow up to $10,000 or more. Any money spent on a qualifying medical expense could then be immediately reimbursed out of the employer sponsored healthcare FSA. The Affordable Care Act will not be so generous. The ObamaCare changes that will be put into effect in 2013 mean that the amount a person can contribute will be lowered to $2,500 per year. There may be a silver lining in that the Department of Treasury is considering changing the “use it or lose it” policy that has long applied to FSAs, so that unused balances may be rolled over into the following year or years.

Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts have long been a useful way of paying for IVF for those with the foresight to prepare for an unexpected medical expense. While none of these changes are certain, given the volatility surrounding FSAs at the moment, anyone who is planning on utilizing a healthcare FSA to defray their In Vitro Fertilization cost would be well advised to contribute as much as possible now, while the opportunity to make a meaningful impact still exists.

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