To be eligible to apply for the rebate, applicants must:
To apply for the rebate, a specialist must sign to confirm the patient’s eligibility for the rebate.
As not all available tests under these categories are for the purpose of fertility testing, its important the type of tests undertaken and confirmed by the specialist are correctly recorded on the patient’s receipt.
Service NSW outlines how to apply for the rebate. You can also call Service NSW on 13 77 88 between 7am and 7pm.
To confirm your patient’s eligibility for the rebate, you must:
As a Specialist, you are uniquely placed to confirm patients' eligibility to receive the rebate. By completing the Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate form you acknowledge:
Although both general practitioners and specialists may order fertility tests, only the following specialists can confirm eligibility for the rebate:
For the purposes of the rebate, a fertility issue is when a woman under 35 years of age has not conceived in 12 months or longer, or a woman over 35 years has not conceived in 6 months or longer, after regular unprotected intercourse. Both male infertility and female infertility are defined by the failure to conceive.
No. A woman can only receive the rebate once.
Service NSW launched the rebate on 15 January 2020. However, specialists were able to approve eligibility for the rebate for fertility tests since 1 October 2019.
From 1 January 2023 the rebate will reduce to $250 in line with current out of pocket testing costs. The rebate is currently funded until June 2026.
Patients should request a duplicate receipt from the provider of their fertility test.
The NSW Government will manage rebate records, including the Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate form and related attachments, in accordance with NSW privacy laws, including the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002. A woman who claims the rebate may also use or disclose information about the service received by a second person for the purposes of making a claim for the rebate. More information on how personal information relating to the rebate is managed can be found in the privacy leaflet for patients.
The pre-IVF Testing Rebate may be subjectable to periodic audits to monitor the rebate to determine compliance.
Yes. RANZCOG is aware of and supporting the implementation of this initiative.
The NSW Government has committed $80 million over 4 years 2022-23 to increase access to affordable fertility treatments under the NSW Affordable IVF Initiative. The fertility package will extend rebates for pre-IVF fertility testing, introduce a new rebate for fertility treatment, increase the number of IVF treatment places in publicly supported clinics and increase fertility preservation services for patients with a medical need.
The new fertility treatment rebate of up to $2,000 will open 1 January 2023. Women who have undergone an eligible procedure from 1 October 2022 will be able to submit a claim when the rebate scheme opens.
This builds on the NSW Government's 2019 investment of $42 million over four years. It will improve affordability and access to IVF and fertility treatment services across NSW by:
For further information on eligibility, including enquiring on an existing or declined claim, please contact Service NSW on 137 788.
For general enquiries on the Affordable IVF Initiative please email AffordableIVF@health.nsw.gov.au.
