Fertility financing is one of those topics where bad information can cost you a lot, both emotionally and financially. So let’s slow it down and do this properly.

You already know the headline: IVF is expensive. But the part people don’t always warn you about is how unpredictable it can be.

One quote turns into three. One cycle turns into two. Or three. And suddenly you’re not just asking “can we afford IVF?” you find yourself asking yourself questions like:

• What happens if this doesn’t work the first time?
• How much risk are we actually taking on?
• Are we paying for treatment… or paying to hope?

This guide is about fertility financing, we don’t mean just loans, but the real ways people pay for IVF in 2026, what those options actually cover, and where the trade-offs are.

We’ll also explain how we fit into this landscape and why we built something intentionally different.

The bottom line: How much does IVF cost?

IVF often costs $15,000–$30,000 per cycle once everything is included and most people need more than one attempt.

Fertility financing generally falls into four categories:

1. IVF loans
2. Clinic or network multi-cycle packages
3. Refund or shared-risk programs
4. All-in, plan-based financing

The biggest difference between programs isn't the monthly cost, but who carries the financial risk if IVF doesn’t go to plan.

Before we rank anything: what does “fertility financing” actually mean?

Fertility financing is any way of making IVF and related treatment financially possible when paying everything upfront isn’t realistic.

That can look like:

• Monthly payments instead of one large bill
• Bundling more than one cycle together
• Defined protections if treatment is cancelled or doesn’t progress
• Or simply borrowing the money and paying it back over time

Some options are designed to reduce financial risk. Others just spread the cost.

Those are not the same thing, and knowing which you’re choosing is important, and makes all the difference.

The top fertility financing programs for IVF in 2025

1. Gaia: best for people who want predictability 

What Gaia actually is

Gaia offers plan-based fertility financing for IVF, Banking IVF, Egg Freezing, FET, and IUI.

Instead of paying cycle by cycle and hoping for the best, you start with:

• One clearly defined plan
• One upfront price
• Clearly explained protections tied to specific clinical outcomes

Gaia is not a generic lender, and is not a clinic. Gaia sits in between being focused on making the financial side of fertility treatment calmer and more predictable.

What people usually like about Gaia

• Fewer surprise bills mid-treatment
• Less juggling of invoices from clinics, labs, and pharmacies
• Knowing upfront what happens if things don’t go to plan

Important (and honest) clarification on protection

Gaia does not offer a blanket “baby or your money back” guarantee.

The protections are:

• Plan-specific
• Clearly defined before treatment starts
• Triggered by things like cancellations or lack of viable embryos, depending on the plan

For example:

• Some IVF plans include a free additional cycle if there are no viable embryos
• Some Banking or Egg Freezing plans include partial refunds or extra cycles if certain thresholds aren’t met
• FET plans may include refunds or credits if a transfer is cancelled

Everything from eligibility, exclusions, and what’s covered, is explained upfront.

Good to know

• Plans are offered through partner clinics
• Financing is subject to eligibility
• Gaia don’t try to be the cheapest option on day one, but focus on reducing long-term financial stress

Best for: People who want structure, clarity, and fewer “we didn’t realise that was extra” moments.

2. Future Family — best for straightforward IVF loans

Future Family is one of the most recognisable names in IVF financing.

How it works

• Primarily loan-based
• Monthly payments, sometimes with promotional 0% periods
• Optional insurance-style products (eligibility applies)

Where it works well

• If you qualify for strong credit terms
• If you’re early in treatment
• If you’re comfortable with a loan structure

Things to be aware of

• Loans still need to be repaid even if IVF isn’t successful
• Promotional interest periods are time-limited
• Treatment costs, meds, and transfers are still billed separately

3. ARC Fertility — best for network-based multi-cycle bundles

ARC works with a large US clinic network and offers discounted IVF packages.

What they offer

• One, two, or three cycle bundles
• Refunds if you succeed early and don’t use all cycles

Trade-offs

• You must use an ARC network clinic
• Pricing varies by clinic
• Medications and add-ons aren’t always included

Best for: Patients already committed to an ARC clinic who want bundled pricing.

4. Shady Grove Fertility — best for established shared-risk programs

Shady Grove has been offering shared-risk IVF programs for decades.

What stands out

• Multi-cycle programs (up to six IVF cycles)
• Refund if treatment isn’t successful (eligibility applies)

Limitations

• Geographic restrictions
• Age and clinical criteria
• You may pay more than pay-per-cycle if you succeed quickly

5. WINFertility — best for employer-sponsored IVF financing

WINFertility mostly operates through employer benefits.

Strengths

• Broad clinic network
• Negotiated discounts
• Care advocacy support

Limitations

• Less transparency for self-pay patients
• Limited public detail on refund or multi-cycle guarantees

6. PatientFi — best for fast approvals and flexibility

PatientFi is a financing platform rather than a fertility program.

Pros

• Quick application process
• High funding limits
• Flexible repayment terms

Cons

• It’s still a loan
• No treatment coordination
• No protection if IVF doesn’t work

7. CapexMD — best for traditional fertility loans

CapexMD is widely used by clinics as a financing partner.

What to know

• Loans can cover IVF, meds, egg freezing, and more
• Rates depend on credit profile
• No bundled care or outcome-based protection

Why financing structure matters more than people realise

Most people focus on things like: “What’s the monthly payment?”

The more important question is: “What happens financially if I need to try again?”

Pay-per-cycle and loan-only models can work but they place all the risk on you, the patient. Plan-based or protected options cost more upfront in some cases, but they:

• Put boundaries around total spend
• Reduce mid-treatment financial decisions
• Make outcomes feel less financially frightening

There’s no one right answer  but there is a right level of risk for you.

How to choose the right fertility financing program

Ask yourself:

• If this doesn’t work the first time, what happens to us financially?
• Am I okay with debt that has no outcome protection?
• Do I want flexibility  or predictability?
• Would fewer surprises help me cope emotionally during treatment?

Those answers matter more than any headline rate.

Final thought 

If you feel overwhelmed reading this, that’s completely normal. Fertility treatment isn’t just medical, it’s physical, emotional, and financially testing too.

Our job at Gaia isn’t to tell you what to choose. It’s to make sure you understand how each option works, where the risk sits, and what support you’ll have along the way.

If you want to talk through what a plan-based option could look like for you, we’re here. From day one to day baby. Get started here.

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