Press Play with Madeleine Brand
In 'Vegas Baby,' fertility clinic sets up contest to win free IVF treatment
In-vitro fertilization costs about $20,000 and it’s rarely covered by insurance. But a clinic in Las Vegas offered desperate couples a chance to win a free IVF treatment. The hopefuls had to make a convincing video for people on the internet to vote on. Ten finalists were then chosen by a panel of experts at the clinic sponsoring the contest.
By Madeleine Brand • • 1 min readIn-vitro fertilization costs about $20,000 and it’s rarely covered by insurance. But a clinic in Las Vegas offered desperate couples a chance to win a free IVF treatment. The hopefuls had to make a convincing video for people on the internet to vote on. Ten finalists were then chosen by a panel of experts at the clinic sponsoring the contest. The contest is the topic of a new documentary called “Vegas Baby.”
Athena Reich, a contestant in "Vegas Baby," makes a living as a Lady Gaga impersonator.
Amanda Micheli is the director of "Vegas Baby."
Photos courtesy of Runaway Films.
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4 of 5Who will vote for the Senate health care bill?- 0:00After CBO report, what the chances Senate GOP health care bill will pass?
- 7:35Fearing deportation, undocumented immigrants choose to go without health care
- 15:50The science of first impressions: Why we take people at face value
- 26:14In 'Vegas Baby,' fertility clinic sets up contest to win free IVF treatmentYou’re reading this
- 40:27Where to get the best Vietnamese food in El Monte's Little Saigon