Wednesday was my first visit to REACH, a fertility clinic in Charlotte.

We first began trying for another baby in August 2004– which at times feels like forever.

I had to fill out a huge packet of paperwork and mail it in prior to my appointment, and I got the impression that this was the type of place where being a few minutes late means you lose your appointment. I think they must think any patient visiting them is just lucky to be there. The office is beautiful and state of the art complete with a fancy coffee machine in the lobby.

But upon leaving with my invoice in hand I figured out how they could afford to give everyone free fancy coffee.

I had to pay my $20 copay, but the total cost line read $983! That didn’t include my bloodwork which looks to add up to $400 or so. All I did was see the doctor and get an ultrasound. $983 for that is just ridiculous.

The doctor I saw was a former student of Princeton… I guess that’s why she gets to charge you out the wazoo.

I don’t know how anyone without insurance coverage could ever afford this type of treatment. It seems to me to be an outrageous taking advantage of desperate people.

Our insurance is excellent. It covers up to $15K for treatment, but with $1000 office visits that won’t get us very far.

I am grateful for the opportunity to go but outraged at the audacity of their prices.