The basics:
- Costco, IVI RMA North America, Sesame partner on fertility care program
- Costco members receive discounted medications, coordinated care
- Program connects patients to IVF, IUI, egg freezing specialists
- Drug costs could drop up to 80% compared with typical self-pay prices
Basking Ridge-based fertility care network IVI RMA North America is teaming up with big box warehouse chain Costco and cash-pay health care platform Sesame to make fertility treatment more accessible and affordable.
As part of a new collaboration, Costco members can receive coordinated fertility care and deep discounts on medications often used during treatments such as in vitro fertilization.
The partners announced the program in a March 9 press release. They said combining Sesame’s direct-access platform with IVI RMA’s expertise and Costco’s transparent pricing can “dramatically improve treatment access, optimize diagnostics and lower healthcare costs for families pursuing fertility care.”
How it works
Through the program, Costco members can use direct-to-consumer health care platform Sesame to connect with clinicians. These professionals provide fertility consultations, diagnostic testing and care coordination.
If more advanced treatment is needed, such as IVF, intrauterine insemination or egg freezing, clinicians will refer patients to fertility specialists within the IVI RMA North America network, the partners said.
Sesame clinicians also remain involved during treatment to help coordinate care, explain medical terminology and guide patients through the process, the partners said.
Cost savings
Costco will fill fertility medications with exclusive member pricing. According to the partners, the model allows for savings of up to 80% on certain drugs commonly used in fertility treatment.
Through the program, medications for procedures such as IUI, IVF and egg freezing are expected to cost between $1,640 to $2,296 per cycle. By comparison, self-pay patients typically spend anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 per cycle, the partners said.
The offering is available to Costco members under their existing membership. It does not require an extra fee. However, individual services and treatment costs bill separately through Sesame and IVI RMA.
A subsidiary of global IVI RMA in Spain, IVI RMA North America operates more than 35 IVF laboratories across the U.S. and Canada. Sesame is an innovative self-pay health care organization with a platform that operates in all 50 states and connects patients directly with doctors.
According to Costco, over half of IVI RMI North America’s locations in the U.S. sit within 10 miles of one of its 640 warehouse stores. Over 85% are within 20 miles.
Breaking down barriers
IVI RMA North America CEO Lynn Mason said, “In partnership with Costco and Sesame, leaders of the highest caliber, we are expanding access to quality fertility care and reducing barriers so more people across the country can build the families they desire. Every partnership we form and program we launch is grounded in expanding access to the most advanced care for individuals and families who deserve expertise and support throughout their fertility journey.”
In partnership with Costco and Sesame … we are expanding access to quality fertility care and reducing barriers so more people across the country can build the families they desire.
– Lynn Mason, CEO, IVI RMA North America
She also noted that the partnership aligns with President Donald Trump’s calls to expand access to fertility care and reduce treatment costs. “As leaders of the fertility industry we are executing on that mandate,” Mason said.
Costco Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Richard Stephens added, “Our partnership with Sesame and IVI RMA reflects our commitment to transparent and affordable solutions that reduce barriers, are more accessible, and more affordable for our members.”
Sesame founder and CEO David Goldhill believes the collaboration “empowers people to take control of their reproductive health without barriers, stigma, or waiting.”
“By connecting patients directly with care coordinators and world-class specialists, we’re making family planning accessible and delivering measurably better outcomes through coordinated, continuous care,” he said.
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