Costco members can now access fertility consultations through Sesame and discounted fertility medications through a partnership with IVI RMA. Follistim drops from ~$1,268 to ~$300 per pen. You don't need insurance — just a Costco membership ($65/year) and a prescription from your doctor.
What Is the Costco Fertility Program?
Costco didn't build a fertility clinic inside the store next to the rotisserie chickens. What they did is arguably more useful: they leveraged their massive buying power to negotiate medication pricing and partnered with two established healthcare companies to create a cash-pay fertility pathway.
The program has two components:
- Sesame partnership: Virtual and in-person fertility consultations at reduced rates. Sesame is a direct-pay healthcare marketplace that connects patients with providers — no insurance middleman.
- IVI RMA North America partnership: Access to IVI RMA's network of fertility clinics with Costco-negotiated pricing on medications, monitoring, and initial assessments.
Medication Pricing: How Much Can You Actually Save?
This is where the program gets interesting. Fertility medications are notoriously expensive, and insurance coverage is inconsistent at best. Costco's negotiated pricing changes the math significantly:
| Medication | Typical Cash Price | Costco Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follistim (300 IU pen) | ~$1,268 | ~$300 | ~76% off |
| Gonal-F (450 IU pen) | ~$1,500 | ~$360 | ~76% off |
| Menopur (75 IU vial) | ~$120 | ~$35 | ~71% off |
| Cetrotide (0.25mg) | ~$350 | ~$70 | ~80% off |
| Ovidrel (trigger shot) | ~$250 | ~$55 | ~78% off |
A typical IVF medication protocol costs $3,000-$7,000 at retail prices. Through Costco's program, the same medications could cost $700-$1,700 — a savings of $2,300-$5,300 per cycle. For families doing multiple cycles, this can represent tens of thousands of dollars in savings.
How to Use the Program: Step by Step
Get a Costco Membership
A basic Gold Star membership ($65/year) is all you need. Executive memberships ($130/year) may offer additional savings on some services, but aren't required for the fertility program.
Book Through Sesame
Visit Costco's Sesame portal to find fertility providers in your area. You can book virtual or in-person consultations at cash-pay rates — no insurance filing, no surprise bills.
Get Your Prescription
Your provider writes prescriptions for the fertility medications you need. You can use any provider — the prescriptions don't have to come from IVI RMA to qualify for Costco pharmacy pricing.
Fill at Costco Pharmacy
Take your prescriptions to a Costco pharmacy. Costco pharmacies are open to non-members by law, but the negotiated fertility pricing requires membership. Not all locations stock all fertility medications — call ahead.
Consider IVI RMA for Treatment
If you need IUI or IVF, the IVI RMA partnership offers Costco-negotiated rates at their clinics. IVI RMA is one of the largest fertility networks in North America with locations across the US.
The Pros and Cons
✅ What's Great
- Massive medication savings (60-80% off retail)
- No insurance required — pure cash-pay transparency
- Low barrier to entry ($65 membership)
- Nationwide IVI RMA clinic network
- Sesame consultations avoid insurance billing
- You can use your own doctor for prescriptions
⚠️ What to Watch
- Not all Costco pharmacies stock fertility meds — call ahead
- IVI RMA clinics aren't in every city
- Doesn't replace insurance if you have good fertility coverage
- Monitoring and procedures still cost extra
- No fertility-specific online pharmacy or mail order yet
- Executive membership benefits are unclear for this program
Who Should Use This Program?
The Costco fertility program is most valuable for specific situations:
- You don't have fertility insurance coverage. Only 21 states mandate any fertility coverage, and mandates vary widely in what they require. If your plan doesn't cover IVF medications, this program is a game-changer.
- You've maxed out your insurance benefit. Many plans cap fertility coverage at a lifetime maximum (often $15,000-$25,000). Once you hit that cap, you're paying cash — and Costco's pricing beats specialty pharmacies.
- You're doing IUI with injectables. Letrozole and Clomid are inexpensive, but if your IUI protocol includes gonadotropins (Follistim, Gonal-F, Menopur), the savings are substantial.
- You're doing egg freezing. Egg freezing medications are the same injectable gonadotropins used in IVF — and they're rarely covered by insurance. The Costco pricing applies here too.
Costco vs. Other Discount Programs
Costco isn't the only way to save on fertility medications. Here's how it compares to other common options:
| Option | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Costco + Sesame | Membership-based discounted pricing at Costco pharmacy | Cash-pay patients, anyone without fertility insurance |
| Compassionate Care (EMD Serono) | Income-based discount program for Gonal-F and other EMD Serono meds | Patients with household income under qualifying threshold |
| Fertility Discount Programs | Clinic-specific multi-cycle packages with medication bundles | Patients committed to multiple cycles at one clinic |
| International Pharmacies | Ordering from Canadian or Israeli pharmacies at lower cost | Experienced patients comfortable with international ordering |
| TrumpRx / Gov Programs | Government prescription discount programs covering some fertility meds | Patients whose specific medications are covered |
You can sometimes combine programs. Use Costco's pharmacy pricing for medications not covered by your insurance, use Compassionate Care for income-based discounts on specific brands, and check TrumpRx for additional coverage. For a detailed walkthrough of combining these savings, see our step-by-step IVF medication savings guide on ConceiveGuide.
What Costco Doesn't Cover
Important to note: Costco's fertility program covers medications and access to consultations. It does not cover:
- The IVF or IUI procedures themselves (though IVI RMA offers Costco-negotiated procedure pricing)
- Monitoring appointments (ultrasounds and bloodwork during a cycle)
- Anesthesia for egg retrieval
- Embryo storage or freezing fees
- Genetic testing (PGT-A, PGT-M)
The average total cost of an IVF cycle is $15,000-$25,000. Medications represent $3,000-$7,000 of that total. Costco's program addresses the medication portion — which is still a meaningful chunk of the bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
By law, Costco pharmacies must serve non-members. However, the discounted fertility medication pricing through this partnership requires an active Costco membership. A basic Gold Star membership is $65/year.
Yes. You don't need to see a Sesame or IVI RMA provider to fill prescriptions at Costco's discounted pricing. Any valid prescription from any licensed provider can be filled at a Costco pharmacy.
The program is designed for cash-pay patients. If your insurance covers fertility medications, your copay may be lower than Costco's cash price — compare both before deciding. If your insurance doesn't cover fertility meds, or you've hit your coverage cap, Costco's pricing is likely the better deal.
IVI RMA (now part of IVIRMA Global) is one of the largest and most research-active fertility clinic networks in the world. They have locations across the US and strong SART-reported success rates. That said, always compare any clinic's success rates for your specific age group and diagnosis using our guide to reading SART data.
Yes. The injectable gonadotropins used in egg freezing cycles (Follistim, Gonal-F, Menopur) are the same medications used in IVF — and they qualify for Costco's discounted pricing. For a complete egg freezing cost breakdown, see our egg freezing guide.
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Take the Free Quiz →Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Pricing information is based on published reports from March 2026 and may vary by location. Always verify current pricing directly with your Costco pharmacy. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized fertility treatment guidance.