Rising US IVF Prices Drive Couples to Seek Treatment in Greece and Spain

Facing steep domestic costs, an increasing number of Americans are traveling to European clinics, especially in Greece and Spain, for in-vitro fertilization.

High out-of-pocket expenses for in-vitro fertilization are pushing a growing cohort of Americans to seek care in Europe, with Greece and Spain emerging as top destinations. A July analysis by Axene Health Partners and the Women’s Reproductive Health Foundation found an average IVF cycle costs more than $29,000 in the United States, climbing to over $54,000 when ancillary services are included, and most patients require two to three cycles.

The Solomons, who live in Florida, discovered their insurance would not cover the procedure and were quoted $40,000 for a single round, leading them to the Pelargos IVF Medical Group in Athens where their total outlay was about $12,000, not counting travel. The Trump administration has proposed a rule to ease employer-based fertility benefits and launched TrumpRx, a discount platform that could save up to $2,200 per cycle, yet these measures lag behind a 90% medication price surge since 2014.

Clinics in Greece, such as Serum IVF, charge under $6,000 per cycle and often bundle airport pickups and island tours, making the experience both affordable and appealing. Nonetheless, patients must navigate restrictions on embryo storage, donor anonymity, and cross-border documentation, and US doctors note challenges in verifying foreign clinic standards and transporting temperature-sensitive meds. While the trend highlights the market’s elasticity, many Americans still cannot afford overseas treatment, underscoring persistent gaps in domestic fertility coverage.