NSW government has announced a cash rebate of up to $2000 for women going through IVF treatment.
Under the new state government scheme, NSW women going through IVF or other reproductive treatments will be eligible for a cash rebate and will no longer have to worry about financial barriers.
The 2022-23 NSW budget has an $80m fertility package, which will help to reduce the cost of IVF treatment for women across the state.
The cash rebate of $2000 will be a part of this fertility package where the budget commitment will help almost 12,000 women who use private fertility clinics, whereas almost 6,200 women will be given access to publicly supported IVF treatment.
Under this fertility package, other benefits are also included such as extended rebates for pre-IVF treatment, five days of paid fertility treatment leave for nurses, teachers, and public servants, and a boost in the number of fertility preservation services for patients with cancers and other medical needs.
NSW treasurer Matt Kean said the rebate will help the families to go for the treatment without worrying about financial restrictions.
“We know that the costs of these treatments can be prohibitively expensive,” Mr. Kean said in a statement on Sunday.
“The rebate will allow the families to make the right choice of starting a family without worrying about the household budget. The scheme will certainly help thousands of families fulfil their dreams of having a baby.”
The rebate scheme will open on January 1 next year, but women who will undergo an eligible procedure from October 1 will be able to submit a claim.
Initially, the rebate scheme will be open to only 12,000 women, and after a thorough evaluation of whether private fees have remained low and competitive will decide on any further extension.
The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand and the IVF Directors Group will be in partnership with the state government to implement the rebate, helping IVF treatments across the state.
