NSW women undergoing IVF or other reproductive treatments will receive a cash rebate of up to $2000 under a new government scheme.
The 2022/23 budget commitment will help about 12,000 women who use private fertility clinics, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said.
Another 6180 women will be given access to publicly supported IVF treatment under the $80 million package.
“We know that the costs of these treatments can be prohibitively expensive,” Mr Kean said in a statement on Sunday.
“No-one should have to face the impossible choice between looking after their household budget and starting a family.”
A single cycle of IVF can cost Australian couples up to $10,000.
Adora Fertility, which bulk-bills for some IVF-related expenses, is able to reduce that cost to about $1500.
“With today’s announcement, Adora Fertility patients could potentially have no out of pocket expenses for their fertility treatments,” Adora’s national medical director Paul Atkinson said.
“Cost is a major barrier to couples accessing fertility treatment. We believe that high-quality fertility treatment should be accessible to all Australian couples.”
The $80 million package will also extend rebates for pre-IVF fertility testing, boost the number of fertility preservation services and provide five days of paid fertility leave for teachers, nurses and other public servants.
The $2000 rebate scheme will open on January 1, but women who undergo an eligible procedure from October 1 can also submit a claim.
