NSW GOVERNMENT INVESTS $42 MILLION TO LOWER IVF COSTS

Women seeking fertility treatment can now apply for a $500 rebate under the NSW Government's $42 million election commitment to cut costs for IVF services.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the NSW Government is also expanding publicly supported IVF services in three public hospitals, making fertility treatment much more affordable for up to 6,000 women.

"The NSW Government's commitment of $42 million over four years will dramatically cut out-of-pocket expenses for women struggling to conceive," Mr Hazzard said.

"Fertility treatment can be a long, expensive and emotionally difficult process so I hope that this extra support will give women more choices and ease the financial burden."

NSW publicly supported IVF clinics will be expanded at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Westmead Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women, increasing access to lower-cost IVF treatments.

The NSW Government will also establish Australia's first state-wide fertility preservation service at the Royal Hospital for Women, providing cancer patients with the greatest hope of having a family in the future.

Out-of-pocket expenses at some clinics for IVF can cost $5,000 or more per cycle but will now be significantly reduced at NSW publicly supported clinics as a result of this initiative. 

Women can lodge a claim for the $500 rebate for pre-IVF fertility testing taken from 1 October 2019.

NSW residents can claim the rebate regardless of where in Australia they received the fertility test via Service NSW.

IVF pre-screening tests are used to understand the cause of the fertility problem and inform whether a woman is likely to experience a positive result and go on to conceive a baby.

One in every 22 Australian babies are now born via IVF – about one in every classroom.