Child funding: How a loan bridges the gap to artificial insemination
28 Jun 2025
8
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
The journey to having the child you desire often comes with high costs that are only partially covered by health insurance. A targeted loan to finance in vitro fertilisation can reduce the financial burden by more than half. Discover how to strategically plan and finance the treatment costs.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The cost of in vitro fertilisation (IVF/ICSI) ranges between 3,000 and 5,500 euros per cycle, with health insurance often covering only 50 percent.
A loan for fertility treatment bridges the financial gap and can be flexibly adapted to the phases of the treatment.
The personal contribution is tax-deductible as an extraordinary burden, and government support programs can further reduce the costs.
Realistically assess the financial aspect of the desire to have children
The costs of fertility treatment are one of the first hurdles on the path to starting a family. A single cycle of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) costs between 3,200 and 3,600 euros, plus medication up to 1,500 euros. For the more complex ICSI method, you should calculate costs of up to 5,200 euros per attempt. As the success rate per cycle is about 22.5 percent, many couples need three or more attempts, which can quickly drive total costs to over 15,000 euros. Statutory health insurers contribute 50 percent to up to three treatment cycles under certain conditions. It is often required that the couple be married, the woman be under 40, and the man be under 50 years old. Therefore, many couples have to bear a significant personal share of several thousand euros themselves, making precise financial planning essential. Inform yourself about all your health insurance options. This remaining financial gap directly leads to the question of the appropriate financing strategy.
Close the funding gap with a purpose-specific loan
A loan to finance artificial insemination bridges the gap between total costs and health insurance subsidies. Many couples use such instalment loans to cover their personal contribution, often 50 percent or more. Let's take a practical example: with total costs of €12,000 for three treatment cycles and an insurance contribution of €6,000, there remains a gap of €6,000. A loan with a term of 48 months and an effective annual interest rate of four percent would result in a monthly payment of approximately €135. Specialised loan offers for medical treatments often provide flexible terms of up to 84 months and loan amounts up to €50,000. It is important that the loan as a loan with no usage restrictions can also be used for unforeseen additional costs. Choosing the right loan offer requires a careful look at the terms and the application process.
Optimise your loan application and secure the best terms
To secure the best terms for your loan, meticulous preparation is crucial. A detailed household budget that contrasts all income and expenses provides transparency about your financial capability. Banks assess your creditworthiness, with a regular income of at least 1,180 euros net often being a basic requirement. For the loan application, you generally need the following documents:
Valid ID cards of both partners
The last three payslips
Bank statements of the last three months
The treatment and cost plan from the fertility clinic
Proof of the health insurance's shared costs
Some providers offer a completely digital application process including video identification, which accelerates the payout within a few days. A loan with a long term can indeed reduce the monthly burden but leads to higher overall costs. In addition to the loan, there are other financial aids you can avail yourself of.
Utilise state subsidies and tax advantages to reduce costs
In addition to the health insurance subsidy, couples can benefit from government assistance. The federal initiative "Assistance and Support for Involuntary Childlessness" promotes treatments if the respective federal state also participates. In participating states such as Lower Saxony or Saxony, the personal contribution for the first three attempts can be reduced to 25 percent. You can also claim your remaining personal contribution for tax purposes. The costs of artificial insemination are considered extraordinary expenses and reduce your taxable income. This also applies to travel costs to the clinic, laboratory bills, and expenses for medication. Even unmarried couples can deduct these costs, which the Federal Fiscal Court decided back in 2007. These financial reliefs are an important component of comprehensive family security. However, financial planning should also cover possible risks and future needs.
Secure long-term risks and plan financial buffers
Fertility treatments do not always go according to plan and may require more cycles than originally anticipated. Therefore, plan for a financial buffer of at least 20 percent of the expected costs to be prepared for additional attempts or unforeseen medical procedures. It is advisable to look into special insurance solutions early. A fertility treatment cost insurance can be a sensible addition to ease the financial burden of repeated treatment cycles. These niche insurances often cover costs that go beyond the standard provisions of health insurance. A solid financial and insurance safety net gives you the peace of mind needed to focus entirely on the treatment. If you would like your individual situation to be assessed, we are here to assist you.
Request a personalised risk analysis now
The path to your desired child is a very personal journey that requires an equally personal financial and insurance strategy. Have your insurance situation reviewed for free and receive concrete optimisation suggestions. Our experts analyse your circumstances and show you how to overcome financial hurdles and ensure optimal coverage.
More useful links
Statista provides statistics on the prices for IVF treatment in selected countries.
Helios Gesundheit provides information about artificial insemination and relevant aspects.
The Gemeinsame Bundesausschuss (G-BA) provides information on the evaluation of methods for artificial insemination.
The portal familienplanung.de of the BZgA offers detailed information on the costs of fertility treatments.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides information about family planning and related topics.
The Fertility Information Portal of the BZgA provides comprehensive information and support on the topic of having children.
The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) provides a PDF document on reproductive medicine.
FAQ
What type of loan is suitable for financing in vitro fertilisation?
A flexible installment loan, often referred to as a personal loan or consumer credit, is ideal. It offers fixed monthly installments and can be used for all costs associated with the treatment without having to prove a specific purpose.
What are the requirements for a fertility loan?
The main requirements are being of legal age, having a residence in Germany, receiving a regular monthly income (often at least 1,180 euros), and having sufficient creditworthiness, which is determined by a Schufa check and an examination of your household accounts.
Can you obtain a loan even with less-than-optimal creditworthiness?
It's more difficult, but not impossible. Some specialised providers and credit intermediaries consider more factors than just the Schufa score in their assessments and can offer solutions even with less than optimal creditworthiness, though often at higher interest rates.
What happens to the loan if the treatment is not successful?
The loan is purely a financial agreement and independent of the medical success of the treatment. The repayment of installments must continue as contractually agreed until the loan is completely paid off.
Does the loan also cover treatments abroad?
Generally, yes. As it is usually a loan with unrestricted use, you can use the money for treatments in foreign clinics. However, to be safe, clarify this with the financial institution in advance.
Are special repayments or early repayments possible?
With most modern installment loans, free special repayments or full early repayment are possible. This should be stipulated as a condition in the loan agreement and helps you save interest costs if you unexpectedly come into money.
