Gaia?: hey all. I was listening to a... - Fertility Network UK

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Gaia?

Clayhugs profile image
21 Replies

hey all. I was listening to a podcast today and they spoke about a new UK funding method/company called Gaia family as an alternative to Access Fertility.

Has anyone used this before and able to share their experience?

Sending love and luck to you all going through this xx

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Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs
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21 Replies
Orangeflowers profile image
Orangeflowers

Not used them no. But there's a form you fill in and it gives you your % chance of success and then it's evaluated and they say whether they'll cover you with a rebate for so many cycles if you aren't successful. I have good AFC and AMH but they wouldn't cover me. Could be worth it if you're younger, but not for me at 43 unfortunately. All the best x

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless in reply to Orangeflowers

Gaia doesn't have age limit. I am 43 too. Try them.

Orangeflowers profile image
Orangeflowers in reply to MrsBless

Hi so, I think there's two different things 1) an insurance plan - I wasn't eligible for that 2) 0% finance plan. See below, for anyone this will help. Good to know that Gaia are good. I might consider 2) in future

"Thank you for requesting a quote for our Gaia Plans. In order to design an insurance plan for your IVF journey, we currently must cover you on the number of IVF rounds where you have a 75% chance of success and your premium is less than 40% of the total cost of treatment. This is so that your personalised Gaia Plan is fair and affordable for you.

Your premium is calculated as above 40% of the cost of your treatment, which means we can't offer you an insurance plan at this time. We really apologise, but take seriously our pursuit to be patient-centred and don't offer plans that are too expensive for our members.

That being said, we can offer you a financing plan where we can pay for your IVF treatment upfront, and you can pay back the cost in monthly instalments over 12 months with 0% interest. "

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to Orangeflowers

Thank you for this. I imagine I’d be in the same position as I don’t think my chances are all that high per cycle because of having a low amh and Male factor. The 12 months sounds good though. 🤞

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless in reply to Orangeflowers

Yes, mine they paid the upfront and I am paying back monthly with 0 interest.

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless

Yes I did used Gaia family plan. I found it amazing. I had a nice experience so far. They paid for everything you don't have to worry about consultation, exams or medication. It's 12 months with no interest fees.

My first cycle didn't work and I am going for them again.

Today I received flowers from Gaia family Team as they know it didn't work for me. So kind of them.

You will be happy I promise you. You don't have to worry about nothing. They pay everything in one time, then you pay them back per month.

Good luck!

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to MrsBless

That’s brilliant you’ve had such a good experience with them.

I’m sorry to hear your first cycle didn’t work and im sure a bunch of flowers was a nice gesture to receive.

All my fingers crossed that your next round works! 🤞🤞

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless in reply to Clayhugs

Thank you, fingers crossed for you too, as we have similar stories. 3 eggs 0 fertilised exactly like me.

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to MrsBless

Thank you! Yeah it’s quite tough not getting to transfer anything! Hopefully we have better luck next time!

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless in reply to Clayhugs

Hopefully! Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

Kittykat198 profile image
Kittykat198

They also told me when I enquired that they won’t cover anyone with a bmi over 30 (mine was only 30.5 at the time). Then sent me a several pestering emails to see why I hadn’t responded to their email!

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to Kittykat198

Uuurgh how frustrating for you! So many hoops we have to jump through. Thank you for sharing your experience xxx

MrsBless profile image
MrsBless in reply to Kittykat198

So sad. Should be for everyone

MariannaB profile image
MariannaB

Hey , I am looking on going with Gaia as well, I am not sure how they work at the moment, have to fill up some kind of form and your clinic that you are going with them they send you a quote for a fresh/ frozen cycle , how many cycles they cover you and how you will pay back . They cover us 5 cycles fresh and frozen . A fresh cycle go on about 7000 and we have to pay 3000 for it , is a little complicated because there are a few questions that I didn’t asked yet about . They say if is not working you don’t pay nothing else but if you go ahead until is working you pay all the cycles back that you used . What I don’t know is if you pay back the 7000 cycles back plus on top what you paid before that 3000 . They say 0 interest on first 12 months but not how much will be after that , if is not successful the first, second, third cycle I am concerned about waking up with 30-40 thousand that I have to give back with a very high interest after 12 months. I was trying to look for reviews on them and ladies that went with them and had a baby after how many cycles . What was the interest after 12 months, did they paid all cycles back in full or was taken out the premium bill.

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to MariannaB

Hi Marianna. Thanks for replying. Yes, I couldn't figure out their interest after the first year ended and if they were to accept us - I don't yield that many eggs so looking at fresh cycles which would be a hefty sum at the end to pay. I do have age (somewhat) and a previous natural pregnancy/miscarriage as supposed 'benefits' but my low AMH and AFC are an issue with IVF.

I've one more go with access fertility covered, bar the drugs so I'm looking into what to do for next year if this cycle doesn't work. If you get a response about the interest rate, I'd be very grateful if you could share it back.

Lots of love to you, I just read your profile there -I hope you're recovering, it's such a hard time for you. Virtual hugs xxx

MariannaB profile image
MariannaB

Hey , thank you, we are looking to start in November a new cycle , I also looked into access fertility where they give back about 70 precent if is not going to work after 3 cycles I think, at the moment I am looking into every way to figure out how will be much better without being scammed. I have an appointment with a different clinic that we’ve been before in October ( give time for my hormones to get back to normal after my miscarriage) and then speak with Gaia and see what and how will work . We thought to get a loan as well, like this we know exactly how much we borrow and spend . Not sure yet what route will will take but I will let you know if we end up with them . X

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to MariannaB

Thank you! I'm hoping to try again around the same time as you. I chose our clinic because it was linked to the access fertility place. In our first consultation, our Dr told us we'd have no issues with Access Fertility, but when we contacted them we were told the 3 cycle refund package is based on a review and we weren't eligible due to my AMH and other factors, one of which was having had a miscarriage before.

They judge it case by case so that doesn't mean you wouldn't get it but keep in mind that it's not a given that you'd get the package you want. Considering our first Dr was so positive, this was a big and unnecessary blow for us and I wish we'd have been prepared. I later found out after talking to other Drs and nurses before, during and after our cycle that our first Dr was being overly optimistic as they gave us a more realistic and accurate idea of how our cycle would go. In hindsight, the Dr was just selling to us, but I think it's important to go in with eyes open, which is why I wanted to share our experience with trying to get the 3-cycle refund programme.

We did however get a 2-cycle package and although there are no refunds with it, it did cut the cost down a bit which has helped. xxx

MariannaB profile image
MariannaB

I didn’t knew all of that , thank you , we did contacted access fertility just wait for them to call me back and speak what and how , I do have a miscarriage as well , I am almost 39 and a low AMH so …. I will see what they offer after my appointment with the clinic and see where we are

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs

Good luck! 😘. Hopefully you’ll get the refund one - my amh is v low for my age so that Could be why. Xx

MariannaB profile image
MariannaB

Thank you 😊, I did email Gaia and we are off the list with them just because I have the feeling that they have hidden cost of the interest and even like they offer 5 rounds covered they kind of trap us and the payment back is much higher than going for a loan where we know exactly how much we borrow/ spend / pay back . , “””

Thank you for your email. To answer your questions, you are right. The premium of £2,977 would be paid at the start of your first fresh round and we would then pay the cost of your IVF treatment to LWC. If you gave birth after your first fresh round, you would then pay back the full cost of your IVF round to Gaia. This would be £6,790 and you have the option to spread the cost over 12 months with 0%, or up to 5 years with interest. We do not have a set interest rate for your finance plan at this time as it is based on requirements from our financing providers at the point of repayment. We do not have any early repayment fees or restructuring fees for your finance plan.

If you needed a second round of IVF, you would pay another premium payment to Gaia depending on whether you were having another fresh round, or a frozen embryo transfer. (£2,977 or £1,070). If you had a child after your second round of IVF, you would pay the full costs for both those 2 rounds to Gaia in monthly installments (Ex: 1 fresh round + 1 FET = £9230)

We in no way require you to complete all 5 rounds of IVF if you do not want to. If you decide to stop your IVF before you either give birth or complete all 5 rounds of IVF, you would however have to pay back the cost of the rounds you completed before stopping. For example, if you chose to stop IVF altogether after your first round, you would pay back the cost of the £6790 fresh round cost in monthly installments. This is so that we can keep our plans fair and affordable for the rest of our members. “””

Hopefully this is information from them is useful for you and sure are ladies that are happy with them 😊

Clayhugs profile image
Clayhugs in reply to MariannaB

Thank you for sharing this. That does sound a wee bit uncomfortable, especially if you end up with a lot to pay off at the end. I hope the access fertility option works out for you instead. xxx

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