The NSW Government has committed $80 million from 2022-23 to 2025-26 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 $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:
If you are undergoing pre-IVF fertility testing and have related out-of-pocket expenses you can receive $250 from 1 January 2023 ($500 until 31 December 2022) to help on your journey to becoming a parent. To claim, you must have incurred out-of-pocket expenses from 1 October 2019 for one or more of the following examinations for the purpose of pre-IVF fertility testing:
Current residents of NSW are eligible for the rebate once a specialist confirms they have a fertility issue and have out-of-pocket expenses related to fertility testing.
Fertility testing includes tests for women and men; however, only women can lodge the claim through Service NSW for the rebate (NSW Health acknowledges people in the transgender community, or who are non-binary, may receive fertility testing but may not identify as women). A woman can only receive the rebate once. The receipt you provide when claiming the rebate must show the out-of-pocket cost incurred and the eligible test.
NSW residents can claim the rebate regardless of where in Australia they received the fertility test. Both GPs and specialists can order tests but only specialists can confirm eligibility for the rebate.
Before you apply, ask your fertility specialist to:
You must provide one receipt of an eligible test as proof of your expenses.
To claim the rebate:
If your application is approved, the rebate will be transferred into your nominated bank account within 28 working days. For information on the status or outcome of your claim, contact Service NSW on 137 77 88.
NSW residents can claim the rebate regardless of where their Specialist is based. However, if your specialist is located outside NSW they may not be on Service NSW's specialist list in the online application. If this happens, please contact Service NSW to provide your specialist's name, location of practice and Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (Ahpra) registration number. Service NSW will verify your provider and add them to the specialist list if eligible.
Please visit the Service NSW Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate page for more information on how to apply for the rebate. You can also call Service NSW on 13 77 88 between 7am and 7pm.
The Fertility Treatment Rebate is available to eligible women who undertake IVF or another fertility treatment in a private clinic and incur an out-of-pocket cost. (NSW Health acknowledges that people in the transgender community, or who are non-binary, may receive fertility treatment but may not identify as women.)
Applicants can claim the rebate for out-of-pocket costs associated with Assistive Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment. This includes artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer and any related treatment or procedure that is outlined in the Fertility Treatment Rebate Terms and Conditions.
The chosen ART Provider must be accredited to carry out ART treatment by the Reproductive Treatment Accreditation Committee (RTAC) of the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Society of Australia, or by another equivalent accreditation body approved in writing by the NSW Ministry of Health.
Eligible applicants will receive $2,000 as a one-off payment if their claim is successful. The rebate may only be claimed once.
The new fertility treatment rebate will open for applicants to make a claim from 1 January 2023. Eligible women who have undergone a procedure from 1 October 2022 will be able to submit a claim when the rebate scheme opens.
The rebate is not available to patients with the following costs:
The fertility treatment rebate includes out-of-pocket costs for women and men; however, only women can lodge the claim.
Before you apply, ask your ART Provider to:
You must provide at least one receipt of an eligible fertility treatment as proof of your expenses.
If your application is approved, the rebate will be transferred into your nominated bank account within 28 working days. For information on the status or outcome of your claim, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
Fertility treatment can be expensive, as well as difficult emotionally.
Building on the 2019 investment, the NSW Government is further expanding the availability of publicly supported lower cost IVF clinics.
Publicly supported IVF clinics include the Fertility Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Westmead Fertility Centre linked with Westmead Hospital and the Fertility and Research Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women.
Medicare rebates remain available to patients to further reduce the cost of treatment. For further information about what Medicare offers visit the Department of Human Services website Medicare services conceiving pregnancy and birth.
The risk of infertility is a concern for many people facing medical treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Building on the 2019 investment, the NSW Government is further expanding fertility preservation services for people with a medical need.
The Fertility and Research Centre at The Royal Hospital for Women, in partnership with the University of NSW, is providing a state-wide service that can freeze and store sperm, ovarian tissue, eggs or embryos before patients undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other treatments.
If you have been recently diagnosed with cancer or a medical condition that may affect your fertility, you can discuss with your treating clinician whether you should be referred for fertility preservation. This may include a referral to the Royal Hospital for Women, Fertility and Research Centre or another service of your choice.
This initiative can be accessed by anyone who is eligible, regardless of where they live.
If you are based in a regional or remote location, you also may be eligible for assistance for specialist treatment under the Isolated Patient Travel and Accommodation Scheme (IPTAAS). For more information, visit Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS)
