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Gift Of Hope FAQ’s

Gift Of Hope FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the Gift of Hope IVF Grant program? Get you questions answered here. If you don’t see what you are looking for, email your question to giftofhope@fertilityanswers.com

What is the Gift of Hope?

The Gift of Hope awards grants for a free IVF treatment cycle to Louisiana applicants each year.

Must both partners be Louisiana residents?

Yes, if a couple is applying, both applicants must be Louisiana residents.

How often is the Gift of Hope awarded?

At present, grants are awarded once annually.

How many grants are awarded?

Two grants are awarded, one for each location (Lafayette and Baton Rouge centers).

Does the grant apply to intrauterine insemination (IUI) and other procedures?

The Gift of Hope applies only to a single standard in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) cycle. However, the selection committee may award additional grants to other applicants exclusively for intrauterine insemination (IUI) if funding allows. 

At which Fertility Answers clinic will the IVF procedure be performed?

The IVF procedure will be conducted at either of our IVF labs in Lafayette, LA, or in Baton Rouge, LA. When applying, please choose which center you are applying for.

How do I know which clinic to select for the treatment?

Please indicate on your application form which location, Baton Rouge or Lafayette, that you are applying for the Gift of Hope. Location preference should be chosen based on your residence or if you are a patient of Fertility Answers, the clinic you go to for treatment. If you do not select a location, the selection committee will select one for you.

What IVF costs are actually covered by the Gift of Hope?

The Gift of Hope covers the following procedures:

  • Laboratory work ordered and completed as indicated for a standard IVF treatment cycle
  • Ultrasound exams ordered and completed as indicated for a standard IVF treatment cycle
  • Fertility medications prescribed for the IVF treatment cycle (medications capped at $3,000)
  • One Retrieval of eggs
  • One Transfer of embryos
  • Initial cryopreservation of unused embryos, if applicable
  • Anesthesia
  • Preimplantation Genetic Testing of Embryos for Aneuploidy (PGT-A)

What IVF costs are NOT covered by the Gift of Hope award?

Winning applicants of the Gift of Hope may be required to pay these expenses related to their in vitro fertilization cycle:

  • Off-site, long-term storage of cryopreserved embryos
  • Complications arising out of the IVF treatment
  • Other or specialized laboratory testing expenses, as necessary or requested, such as, but not limited to, semen analysis, etc.
  • Other or specialized medical procedures or surgery, as necessary or requested, such as MESA, TESA, etc.
  • Donor egg or donor sperm expenses
  • Medication required above the $3,000 cap
  • Travel expenses
  • Other fees and costs not covered by donation
  • Pre-screening laboratory fees
  • Certain fertility medications
  • Pre-pregnancy genetic testing
  • Preimplantation genetic testing of embryos for monogenetic disease (PGT-M) or other testing for embryos required

I already have frozen embryos from a past IVF cycle.  Will the Gift of Hope cover a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycle?

No. The Gift of Hope award can only be used for a standard IVF cycle.

Can the time for using the grant be extended beyond one year?

No. The applicant receiving the Gift of Hope award must commence (start) their treatment cycle within 12 months of the award.

Is there an age limit?

No, there is no age limit to apply for the Gift of Hope.

Can you have children already?

Yes, but the selection process is preferential to those without children.

Is there an annual minimum or maximum income?

There is no minimum income limit, however, the selection process is preferential to applicants earning enough to reasonably support a child. The maximum income limit allowed to apply is $120,000 Adjusted Gross Revenue. This amount can be found on your 2022 tax return (Line 11 on IRS Form 1040).

What medical insurance coverage is required?

Women and couples applying must be able to provide proof of medical insurance to cover their health care needs including prenatal/maternity care. Please check your policy to make sure you also have prenatal and maternity coverage.

What if my insurance also covers infertility services and IVF?

You may still apply, however, the selection process is preferential to those applying whose insurance does not cover infertility or IVF.

Do I need to provide a physician’s written recommendation?

If you are NOT already a patient of one of the physicians at Fertility Answers (within the last two years), you will need to provide a written recommendation from your physician, on letterhead, of your need for IVF to conceive. We also encourage you to ask your referring physician to provide as much documentation as possible, including lab values, as this helps our selection committee determine your need and possible success with IVF. The date on the documents should be within the past year.

What lab information would be helpful to add to our application?

Specific lab information that would be helpful in determining your candidacy for the Gift of Hope IVF Grant include FSH levels (follicle stimulating hormone) and AMH levels (anti-mullerian hormone) for the female applicant and a semen analysis for the male applicant. These values should be fairly recent, at least within the past 6 months to a year.

 

If you still have questions regarding the Gift of Hope FAQ, please email them to giftofhope@fertilityanswers.com. Please note that replies from this email go through a secure server that you need to register for to view the reply.