PGT Payment Options in Thailand: A Practical Guide for International Patients

Paying for PGT in Thailand usually means combining several separate charges rather than one flat fee. Most clinics quote the IVF cycle, the embryo biopsy, the genetic laboratory analysis and medication as distinct line items, and payment is typically requested in stages rather than all at once. International patients commonly pay by bank transfer, card or cash, and the practical questions are about timing, currency, receipts and what happens if a cycle changes. This guide explains the payment mechanics you should clarify before committing, without quoting prices that vary by clinic, protocol and case.

At a glance

• PGT is usually billed as several components, not a single package price.
• Payment is often staged: before stimulation, before retrieval, and before genetic analysis.
• International transfers, cards and cash are common, but each has different fees and timing.
• Insurance rarely covers PGT itself; confirm in writing before assuming anything.
• Ask about currency, exchange-rate handling, receipts and refund conditions in advance.

Why PGT pricing is rarely a single number

Preimplantation genetic testing sits on top of an IVF cycle, so the total you pay reflects both the fertility treatment and the genetic laboratory work. Clinics generally separate these because the components depend on different factors: how many eggs are retrieved, how many embryos develop far enough to be biopsied, how many are tested, and which genetic method is used. Because those numbers are not known in advance, a responsible clinic will describe its pricing structure and give a range or an estimate rather than a guaranteed total.

This is why comparing two clinics on a headline figure alone can be misleading. A lower quoted cycle fee may exclude biopsy, shipping, analysis or medication that another clinic bundles differently. The useful comparison is the list of what is included, what is excluded, and when each payment falls due.

Typical cost components to expect

Exact amounts vary, but the categories below are the ones most clinics itemise. Ask your clinic to mark each as included, excluded or conditional in your written quote.

Component	What it usually covers	Why it can change
Consultation and monitoring	Initial assessment, scans, blood tests during stimulation	Number of visits and monitoring intensity
Medication	Stimulation and cycle-support drugs	Protocol, dose, duration, brand
Egg retrieval and embryology	Retrieval procedure, fertilisation, embryo culture	Technique used, number of eggs and embryos
Embryo biopsy	Sampling cells from suitable embryos	How many embryos reach biopsy stage
Genetic analysis	Laboratory testing of the biopsy samples	Test type, number of embryos, whether testing is in-house or sent elsewhere
Embryo freezing and storage	Cryopreservation and storage of surplus embryos	Number stored and storage duration
Transfer cycle	Preparing the uterus and transferring an embryo	Whether transfer is fresh or frozen, and timing

Some clinics also list administrative charges, courier or shipping costs if samples are sent to an external genetics laboratory, and separate fees for additional consultations. Ask for these to be named explicitly rather than assumed to be included.

How payment is usually staged

Rather than one payment, many clinics structure billing around milestones in the cycle. A common pattern looks like this, though the exact sequence is clinic-specific:

1. Before starting: consultation, baseline tests and sometimes a deposit to reserve a cycle slot.
2. Before stimulation: medication and the main cycle fee, or an agreed portion of it.
3. Around retrieval: procedure and embryology charges.
4. Before genetic analysis: biopsy and testing fees, often once the number of embryos is known.
5. Before transfer: any remaining cycle balance, plus freezing or storage if applicable.

Staged billing is helpful because it spreads cost and lets you see what you are paying for at each step. It also means you should ask what happens if the cycle stops early, if fewer embryos than expected reach biopsy, or if you decide not to proceed to transfer. Those scenarios affect both the total and any refund.

Payment methods international patients commonly use

Thai clinics generally accept more than one method, but availability and fees differ. Confirm your chosen method with the clinic’s finance team before you travel, because some options require advance notice or in-person verification.

• International bank transfer: often preferred for larger amounts. Ask for the clinic’s exact account details, the beneficiary name, and whether an intermediary bank is involved. Transfers can take several business days and may incur fees at both ends.
• Credit or debit card: convenient for deposits and smaller payments, but check whether your card issuer treats the charge as a foreign transaction and what conversion rate applies. Some clinics may apply a card surcharge.
• Cash in local currency: accepted by many clinics for in-person payments, but carrying large sums has practical and security drawbacks. Ask whether cash is accepted for the full amount or only smaller items.
• Online or app-based transfers: increasingly available, but limits, verification steps and exchange rates vary by provider and country.

Whichever method you use, request a formal receipt or invoice for every payment. Receipts matter for insurance claims, for your own records, and for resolving any later discrepancy.

Currency, exchange rates and timing

Quotes are usually given in Thai baht, while your funds may be held in another currency. That gap creates two practical issues: the exchange rate at the moment of payment, and any conversion fee charged by your bank or the clinic.

Questions worth asking:

• Is the quote fixed in baht, or can it be fixed in my home currency?
• If the exchange rate moves between quote and payment, who absorbs the difference?
• Does the clinic add a conversion or processing fee for foreign cards or transfers?
• Can I pay in instalments to reduce exposure to a single exchange-rate moment?

Because rates fluctuate, a quote given weeks before payment may not match the final amount in your currency. Budgeting a modest buffer for currency movement is a reasonable precaution, though the size of that buffer depends on your own circumstances.

Insurance and PGT: what to check

Insurance coverage for PGT is limited in most countries, and policies differ widely. Some plans cover parts of an IVF cycle under specific medical criteria, while the genetic testing itself is often excluded or treated as elective. Rather than assume, verify directly with your insurer.

Ask your insurer:

• Does my policy cover fertility treatment, and under what documented criteria?
• Is preimplantation genetic testing covered, excluded, or covered only for certain indications?
• Does coverage apply to treatment received outside my home country?
• What documentation is required for a claim: itemised invoices, diagnosis codes, treatment reports?
• Is reimbursement paid to me or directly to the provider?

If your insurer requires pre-authorisation, start that process before treatment begins. Retrospective claims are harder to support, and clinics may not be able to issue the exact documentation your insurer wants after the fact.

Refunds, cancellations and changes to the plan

Because a cycle can change course, refund terms deserve as much attention as the price itself. Ask the clinic to explain, in writing:

• What portion of a payment is refundable if the cycle is cancelled before retrieval.
• How charges are adjusted if fewer embryos than expected are available for biopsy or testing.
• Whether unused medication or storage fees can be refunded or credited.
• What notice period applies to cancellation, and whether a deposit is forfeited.
• How refunds are returned, in which currency, and who bears transfer fees.

Clear refund terms protect both sides. If a clinic is reluctant to put them in writing, that is worth noting when you compare options.

Comparing quotes: questions to ask each clinic

Use the same questions across clinics so the answers are genuinely comparable.

1. Can I have a written, itemised quote showing included and excluded items?
2. Which costs are fixed and which depend on the number of eggs, embryos or tests?
3. When is each payment due, and what triggers the next stage?
4. Which payment methods do you accept from international patients, and what fees apply?
5. How do you handle currency conversion and exchange-rate changes?
6. What are your refund and cancellation terms?
7. What documentation will I receive for insurance claims?
8. Is genetic testing performed in-house or sent to an external laboratory, and does that affect cost or timing?

A short pre-payment checklist

• Request an itemised written quote and read the exclusions.
• Confirm the payment schedule and what each stage covers.
• Check your insurer’s position and start any pre-authorisation early.
• Decide on a payment method and confirm the clinic accepts it.
• Ask about currency handling and any processing fees.
• Get refund and cancellation terms in writing.
• Keep every receipt and invoice in one place.

For background on the treatment itself, see our guide to PGT in Thailand. For a broader view of cycle costs, see IVF cost in Thailand. Our patient resources section collects planning tools, and you can contact us with questions about arranging care.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay for PGT in Thailand in my home currency?

Some clinics quote in Thai baht and accept foreign cards or transfers, which means a conversion happens at some point. Whether you can fix a price in your own currency depends on the clinic and your bank. Ask how the exchange rate is applied, who pays any conversion fee, and whether the quote is guaranteed if rates move before payment.

Does insurance cover PGT in Thailand?

Coverage varies widely and PGT is often excluded or treated as elective, even when parts of an IVF cycle are covered. Check with your insurer whether fertility treatment and genetic testing are covered, whether treatment abroad is included, and what documentation a claim requires. Start any pre-authorisation before treatment begins.

What happens if my cycle is cancelled after I have paid?

Refund terms are clinic-specific. Ask in writing what portion is refundable at each stage, how charges adjust if fewer embryos are available than expected, and how any refund is returned, in which currency and who pays transfer fees. Getting these terms before payment avoids disputes later.

Is it cheaper to pay by bank transfer or card?

It depends on the fees at both ends. Bank transfers may suit larger amounts but can involve intermediary charges and several days of processing. Cards are convenient but may carry foreign transaction fees or a clinic surcharge. Compare the total cost of each method, not just the headline amount.

Why do clinics give a range instead of a fixed PGT price?

Several components depend on unknowns such as how many eggs are retrieved, how many embryos reach biopsy stage, and how many are tested. Because those numbers emerge during the cycle, clinics typically quote a structure or range rather than a guaranteed total. Ask which items are fixed and which are conditional.

Continue your research

• PGT in Thailand overview
• IVF cost planning
• Patient resources

Medical information notice: This article is educational and does not replace individual assessment, diagnosis, genetic counselling or treatment advice from a licensed clinician. Provider services, availability, fees and policies should be verified directly before booking.