What are your options if NHS-funded IVF isn’t available?

Finding out that you aren’t eligible for NHS-funded IVF can be difficult, particularly if you had expected NHS treatment to be part of your fertility journey.

Suddenly you find yourself looking into private IVF, comparing treatment costs and wondering how you’ll fund your next steps.

If that’s where you are now, it’s important to remember that NHS funding isn’t the only route available. 

There are different ways to approach the cost of private fertility treatment, including programmes designed to give you greater certainty over what you might need to pay.

At BCRM, we partner with Access Fertility to offer a range of IVF and ICSI funding options – including refund, multi-cycle and unlimited treatment programmes.

In this blog, we’ll look at some of the options available if NHS-funded IVF isn’t available to you and explain how Access Fertility could help make the financial side of treatment feel more manageable.

What can I do if I’m not eligible for NHS-funded IVF?

Access to NHS-funded fertility treatment can vary depending on where you live and whether you meet the eligibility criteria in your area.

If you find that you aren’t eligible for NHS funding, or you’ve used the NHS-funded treatment available to you, you might decide to explore private fertility treatment.

Before focusing on how you’ll pay for treatment, however, it can help to understand what treatment might be appropriate for you.

Every fertility journey is different. Your fertility history, age, previous treatment and the results of any investigations can all influence what your specialist recommends.

From there, you can start thinking about how you would like to fund your treatment.

Does private IVF mean paying for one cycle at a time?

Some patients choose to pay BCRM’s standard treatment costs as they go, but eligible patients can also explore funding programmes through Access Fertility.

Access Fertility works in partnership with BCRM to provide alternative ways of paying for IVF and ICSI, including fixed-price programmes that can cover more than one treatment cycle.

All of your consultations, assessments and fertility treatment continue to take place at BCRM, with our team taking care of your medical needs.

Access Fertility simply provides the payment programmes, giving you different options for managing the financial side of your treatment.

What Access Fertility programmes are available at BCRM?

There are several programmes available, depending on your circumstances and eligibility.

1. IVF/ICSI Refund Programme

The IVF/ICSI Refund Programme is designed to provide greater financial reassurance if you need fertility treatment.

Eligible patients can access up to three cycles of IVF or ICSI, alongside unlimited frozen embryo transfers.

The programme offers fixed, discounted fees, with up to 100% of your programme fee refunded if treatment is unsuccessful.

At BCRM, the programme is available to women under 40 using their own eggs and is subject to a medical review.

For some patients, having the possibility of a refund can provide additional reassurance when it’s impossible to know at the beginning of treatment exactly how their fertility journey will unfold.

2. IVF/ICSI Multi-Cycle Programme

If your priority is planning ahead for the possibility of more than one treatment cycle, the IVF/ICSI Multi-Cycle Programme provides another option.

It includes up to two fresh cycles of IVF or ICSI and unlimited frozen embryo transfers for a fixed, discounted fee.

The programme is available to women under 45 using their own eggs and no medical review is required.

This could be worth considering if you would prefer to plan financially for multiple treatment cycles from the outset rather than paying for each cycle separately.

3. IVF/ICSI Unlimited Programme

Access Fertility also offers an Unlimited Programme for eligible BCRM patients.

This provides unlimited IVF or ICSI treatment over a two-year period, including unlimited fresh and frozen embryo transfers.

If treatment is unsuccessful during the programme, you’ll receive a 100% refund.

Options are available to patients under 38 using their own eggs and are subject to medical review.

For some patients, knowing they have more time to focus on treatment can be reassuring, especially when they don’t know how many cycles they might need.

4. Egg Donor Refund Programme

If your treatment involves donor eggs, Access Fertility also offers an Egg Donor Refund Programme.

This provides eligible patients under the age of 48 with up to two cycles of treatment with ICSI and unlimited frozen embryo transfers. If treatment is unsuccessful, you could receive up to a 50% refund.

If donor egg treatment is part of the pathway recommended for you, your BCRM team can talk you through your treatment while you explore whether this type of funding programme could be right for you.

Which option is right for me?

There isn’t one funding option that will be right for everyone.

Some patients prefer to pay for treatment as they go, while others like to know that the cost of multiple cycles is covered from the beginning.

For someone else, the possibility of receiving a refund if treatment is unsuccessful may offer additional financial reassurance.

When comparing your options, it can help to consider:

• Which programmes am I eligible for?
• How many IVF or ICSI cycles are included?
• Are frozen embryo transfers included?
• Are there additional treatment costs outside the programme?
• Is there a refund if I don’t have a baby?
• How much could be refunded?
• Is a medical review required?
• How long does the programme last?
• How does the programme compare with paying for treatment as I go?
• What happens if my treatment needs change?

There’s a lot to consider, so take the time to understand the terms of any programme before making your decision.

Most importantly, your treatment should be based on what is clinically appropriate for you, rather than the funding option you choose.

“Not being eligible for NHS-funded IVF doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Our role is to help you understand the treatment that’s right for you and the different ways you may be able to fund it, so you can make an informed decision about your next steps.” - Cydney Chapman, Fertility Care Coordinator, BCRM 

Taking the next step after NHS funding

Finding out that NHS-funded IVF isn’t available to you can be really disappointing. But it doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

Private fertility treatment can provide another route forward, while programmes such as those offered through Access Fertility can give you different ways to manage the financial side of IVF or ICSI.

If you’re considering private fertility treatment, book a consultation with BCRM. You don’t need a referral to start your treatment journey with us, and our team can help you understand your individual circumstances and the options available for your next steps.