A local radio station to me is running a contest to win a baby. Essentially they are paying for $15,000 of services at a local reproductive medicine practice. I have not read everything super carefully but it seems like basically they will be paying for a round of IVF but not meds and anything you need beyond that is on you. I also don't see a baby or pregnancy gaurantee. Seeing billboards for this and hearing radio ads makes me feel all ick. What do you all think?
I'm linking the contest page so you all can see more.
https://q102.iheart.com/contests/win-a-baby-with-elvis-duran-559976/
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I don't have a problem with the prize being a round of IVF but I agree that the name of the contest is annoying. They're not giving away a baby - they're giving away one shot at getting a baby.
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The title threw me off a bit, but knowing how expensive IVF is (I haven't had to go that route, but know others who have), I'm sure many want-to-be parent's would be excited at the chance. I imagine it's 'free' advertising for the medical practice so win/win? ...
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I agree that I don't love the name...seems like it's making light of the situation. But I do think the money could be life-changing for a couple. It also makes me sad that the state of health care makes stuff like this necessary. I read recently that a huge percentage of GoFundMe sites are raising money for health care costs. That's just unconscionable to me.
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The Sher Institute ran a similar "contest" and made a great documentary about it. It's called "Vegas Baby" and I highly recommend it to anyone struggling with infertility.
I don't love the name of it but as someone struggling to conceive it would be amazing to win IVF.
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@mrskansas: I'm with you on this - 100%!
While I don't particularly love the name of the contest either, as a woman struggling to conceive (over 3 years now trying for our 3rd), it would be life altering and such a blessing to win a cycle or 2 of IVF (* especially since our insurance doesn't cover IUI or IVF).
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Terrible name, but I'd be all for a free cycle of IVF... Well just pay for meds, which still might be cost prohibitive.
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I think thats what makes me feel ick that they are calling it win a baby when you aren't winning a baby you are winning money towards healthcare that will hopefully make a baby. It is awful that this is a contest the radio station knows will hit big because of the state of health care in this country. It will be life altering for someone wanting to start a family, it just sucks that its down to a radio station making it happen.
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@snarkybiochemist: My local radio station just did this same contest for the second time. The first time they ran the contest it had the same name, but a bunch of people complained for all the reasons listed above. This time they renamed to contest to “win the chance to try for a baby” or something silmilar, to account for the fact that they can in no way guarantee a baby from this contest. I cried every morning that they read the entry essays and interviews with the Dr sponsoring the contest. But I totally agree that it’s terrible that a radio station has to be responsible for helping a family go through IVF.
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Agree with PPs about it having a terrible name, but I think if it raises awareness to both the struggles couples have and the cost of IVF and reproductive medicine, and eventually helps one family that it is an overall net positive.
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I think they just need to call it "Win a *shot* at a baby" if they want to keep the name close. Cause anyone that has been through it knows you cant just GET a baby, nothing is guaranteed, not even IVF. This might raise awareness, but it's still all sorts of wrong... cause how many people probably think (myself included before I actually went through it) that "oh simple as just doing IVF and you'll get pregnant and have a baby."
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I’m in Canada and another radio station here did the exact same contest a number of years ago. I remember thinking the same thing as you until they started interviewing contestants and hearing their stories on air. I think one of them even said it wasn’t about winning a baby but giving them a chance so it maybe clarified a little. It was really eye opening and emotional to hear their stories, especially because years later we ended up doing 2 rounds of IVF for our sons! I didn’t fully understand how much they had to go through. In the contest here, they ended up giving all the finalists the prize as a surprise. Now we have publicly funded IVF here which we were able to use for our second sons cycle.
I agree it seems a little tacky but it really did help the couples and I think raised awareness for infertility and assisted reproduction...at least it made me more aware.
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@muffinsmuffins: OMG, what a sweet story!
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@Kaohinani: I know! I think there were 4 or 5 finalists and it was for 3 rounds IVF for EACH couple
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@snarkybiochemist: I agree the name of the contest is weird but my guess is they did that intentionally to grab attention
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I agree with all of the above. Vegas Baby is a decent movie (maybe documentary) about a contest just like this. It's a sad statement on US healthcare. I'm fortunate that since my first IVF in 2016 (paid ~$21,000) my insurance now covers IVF 100%. But this is a potentially life-changing opportunity.
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