Maternal and newborn - Affordable IVF Initiative - Frequently asked questions (2023)

On this page

1. IVF and fertility treatments
2. Pre-IVF fertility testing rebate
3. Fertility treatment rebate
4. Government supported IVF clinics
5. Fertility preservation service
6. Privacy

IVF and fertility treatments

Who can have IVF treatment?

IVF treatment assists people who are infertile to conceive and have a baby. It may be a male and/or female infertility issue preventing conception or a combination of both. Infertility is the term used when couples have not been able to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex when the woman is under 35 years of age. Or, when the couple has not been able to conceive after 6 months of regular unprotected sex when the woman is 35 years of age or over.

A Specialist will typically conduct some diagnostic examinations to determine the cause of infertility. Not all couples will require IVF treatment; some may be able to conceive a baby by continuing to try naturally (with or without medication) or through less invasive therapies. It is best to discuss your options for IVF with your doctor.

Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate

Who is eligible to claim the Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate?

To be eligible for the rebate, you must:

• be a NSW resident
• be a woman (eligible fertility tests may be for a man or a woman, but only women can submit an application for the rebate)
• have been referred for eligible fertility tests by a general practitioner or a specialist
• have a receipt for an out-of-pocket cost for one of the following fertility tests (pre-IVF) after 1 October 2019:
• Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test
• pelvic ultrasound
• ovulation test
• semen analysis.

Before you apply, ask your fertility specialist to:

• refer to thePre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate checklistto confirm that you are eligible for the rebate
• complete thePre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate form[PDF] with you.

You must provide one receipt of an eligible test as proof of your expenses.

The rebate applies to tests for both men and women. However, the woman seeking to become pregnant must lodge the claim on behalf of herself, or her partner or donor, provided that the partner or donor has given consent. (NSW Health acknowledges that people in the transgender community, or who are non-binary, may receive fertility testing but may not identify as women.)

The full rebate amount of $250 ($500 until 31 December 2022) is available even if the receipt you supply is for less than this amount. Women can only claim and receive the rebate once. The rebate is provided in addition to Medicare and any private health insurance rebates available to you.

How do I claim the rebate?

To claim the rebate:

• Visit theService NSW NSW Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate pageand click Apply Online
• Log in to your MyServiceNSW account, or create an account if you do not have one
• Upload the signedPre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate Form[PDF] and one receipt for fertility testing
• You may also apply for this rebate in person at any Service NSW Service Centre.

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.

Which receipt should I attach to my online claim?

To claim the rebate, you must provideonereceipt for an eligible examination. The receipt must show the examination item and out-of-pocket cost incurred.

Who can confirm eligibility for the rebate?

A specialist must confirm your eligibility for the rebate on thePre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate Form. The following Specialists can confirm eligibility for the rebate:

• Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologists
• Specialists in Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound
• Specialists in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
• Specialist Urologists
• Specialist Endocrinologists.

While GPs can order fertility examinations, only Specialists can confirm eligibility for the rebate on the Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate form. A referral letter from a GP is not sufficient.

Can I claim for examinations undertaken during or after IVF?

As a pre-IVF rebate, the rebate is not available for in-cycle IVF procedures or post-IVF examinations. However, if you have already progressed to IVF treatment, it is likely that you undertook one of the eligible pre-IVF diagnostic examinations before beginning IVF treatment and may wish to claim for this.

Is the rebate just for women, or are men also eligible?

Tests applying to both men and women are eligible for the rebate. However, the woman seeking to become pregnant must lodge the claim on behalf of herself, or her partner or donor.

This ensures only one applicant from the partnership seeking to have a child can claim the rebate. The woman is the most appropriate person to receive the rebate as this covers the broadest range of partnerships, including same sex relationships and situations where a surrogate is involved.

Are same-sex couples eligible for the rebate?

Yes. Anyone considering IVF treatment who has out-of-pocket medical costs for testing to determine their fertility is eligible to receive the rebate.

If I live in a state other than NSW, am I eligible to receive the rebate?

Only people who are residents of NSW at the time of testing are eligible. NSW residents can claim the rebate for fertility testing provided in NSW or in another state.

What if my specialist is located outside NSW?

If your specialist is outside of NSW, they may not appear in the drop-down list when lodging your claim online. If this happens, please contact Service NSW at 13 77 88 with your specialist's name and their registration number (Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency [Ahpra]). Service NSW will verify your provider and add them to the Specialist list if eligible.

Fertility Treatment Rebate

Who is eligible to claim the Fertility Treatment Rebate?

To be eligible for the rebate you must:

• be a NSW resident
• be a woman who has undergone an Assistive Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment in a private clinic. ​NSW Health acknowledges that people in the transgender community, or who are non-binary, may receive fertility treatment but may not identify as women
• have received treatment from a provider accredited ART treatmentby the Reproductive Treatment Accreditation Committee (RTAC) of the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Society of Australia
• have incurred an out-of-pocket cost for an ART treatment undertaken at a private clinic.

How much is the rebate?

The rebate is $2000. Eligible applicants may claim the $2,000 rebate if they have incurred an eligible out-of-pocket cost for fertility treatment from an accredited ART provider.

Which treatments does the rebate cover?

Applicants can claim the rebate for out-of-pocket costs associated with 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.

How many times can I apply for the rebate?

You can only receive this rebate once.

If I receive this rebate, am I still eligible for the Pre-IVF Testing Rebate?

Yes, these are two separate rebates. Receiving the Pre-IVF Testing Rebate will not disqualify you from applying for the fertility treatment rebate. The Pre-IVF Testing Rebate covers four fertility tests (listed above), while the new fertility treatment rebate covers fertility treatments that have been undertaken at a private clinic.

Howdo I claimthe rebate?

To claim the rebate:

• Visit the Service NSW Fertility Treatment Rebate page and click Apply Online
• Log in to your MyServiceNSW account, or create an account if you do not have one
• Upload the signed Fertility Treatment Rebate Form [PDF] and one receipt for fertility treatment
• You may also apply for this rebate in person at any Service NSW Service Centre

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.

Are there any exclusions to the rebate?

The following costs are unable to be claimed for this rebate:

• any component of cost for treatment that has already been reimbursed by another government program or rebate, such as Medicare
• costs for treatments that are for the sole purpose of fertility preservation
• costs for treatments incurred from the publicly supported lower cost IVF programs at the following clinics:
  • Fertility Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
  • Westmead Fertility Centre linked with Westmead Hospital
  • Fertility and Research Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women

The rebate is not available to patients:

• with an out of pocket cost associated with publicly supported lower cost IVF treatment
• for the sole purpose of fertility preservation.

If you are accessing lower cost IVF through one of the publicly supported clinics, any out-of-pocket costs associated with this treatment are ineligible for this rebate. However, this does not exclude you from claiming the rebate at a future date if you have out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment outside of a publicly supported clinic. This rebate also does not apply the storage of eggs, ovarian tissue or sperm for the sole purpose of fertility preservation.

What documentation will I need to provide to claim this rebate?

You will need proof of an out-of-pocket cost incurred at an accredited private clinic. This may be an invoice or receipt of payment from the clinic.

You will also need a Fertility Treatment Declaration Form [PDF] fully completed by the ART Provider’s authorised representative and evidence detailing:

• the full name of the person who received the treatment
• a description of the ART treatment received
• the date the treatment was received
• the out-of-pocket amount of each treatment claimed
• details of the ART Provider, including the fertility specialist’s name, the ART Provider’s name and address providing the ART treatment, and the RTAC certified Unit Number.
  

Can I claim either of these rebates at Service NSW Service Centres and Contact Centres?

Yes, you can claim both of these rebates in person at any Service NSW Service Centre.

Government supported IVF Clinics

How do I access lower cost IVF treatment?

Any NSW resident who is eligible for Medicare and who is referred by their doctor can access the publicly supported IVF clinics. The clinic must also deem IVF treatment clinically appropriate for the patient.

To access this service, please contact your GP for a referral. Alternatively, one or more of the IVF clinics participating in the initiative can provide you with personalised advice.

• The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital IVF clinic(9515 8824)
• The Fertility and Research Centre
• The Westmead Fertility Centre(8890 7484)

How much does IVF treatment cost at publicly supported IVF clinics?

Under the initiative patient's out-of-pocket expenses, after claiming Medicare, will not exceed $1,000 for an IVF cycle or $765 for a Frozen Embryo Treatment (FET) cycle. There is an extra fee for any patient who uses donor gametes as this involves a service which is additional to the standard IVF cycle.

Out-of-pocket costs at the three government supported clinics are substantially lower than most private clinics.There are otheraccredited assisted reproductive technology providersin NSW. Some of these clinics also offer lower cost treatment options, including private centres that offer bulk-billing for cycle fees.

Are same sex couples eligible for the lower cost IVF treatment?

All women and men are eligible for lower cost IVF treatment, provided that an IVF clinic specialist determines that IVF treatment is clinically appropriate for them.

Are single women who want to use donor sperm eligible?

Yes. Any woman with a confirmed fertility issue can be considered for lower cost treatment where clinically appropriate. However, in line with the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act 2007, all publicly supported IVF clinics require that donor sperm (or oocytes) must be from a known donor.

Do the publicly supported clinics provide frozen embryo transfer (FET) services?

Yes, all publicly supported clinics offer frozen embryo transfer (FET). During the IVF cycle, a number of eggs may be collected during the retrieval stage. All publicly supported clinics will freeze the extra eggs and can then do an FET cycle should the IVF cycle not be successful.

Is the cost of genetic testing included in the lower cost IVF treatment?

Preimplantation genetic testing of any type is not supported by the initiative. The publicly supported clinics may offer genetic testing as part of the IVF treatment cycle at an additional cost.

Will patients of the lower cost IVF clinics be subject to financial means testing?

No. Clinics will not means test their patients under this initiative. The clinics are responsible for supporting women from priority populations including people who may need access to culturally sensitive services or who might have difficulty affording IVF treatment. Clinics may prioritise access to IVF treatment for women in these target groups.

Will clinics have a waiting list?

If demand is higher than can be met by a clinic then patients will have the option to join a waiting list or access treatment at another registered clinic.

What if I am in a regional or remote location?

The clinics involved in the initiative are committed to supporting increased access to their services for patients in rural and regional areas. People based in a regional or remote location may be eligible for financial assistance for specialist treatment under theIsolated Patient Travel and Accommodation Scheme (IPTAAS).

Fertility Preservation Service

How does this service benefit patients with a medical need?

The side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments can leave patients infertile, adding to the psychological and emotional burden of a medical diagnosis and treatment. There is usually only a small window of time to freeze eggs, ovarian tissue or sperm prior to a patient receiving potentially sterilising treatment.

The state-wide fertility preservation service provides these patients with access to the latest technology, research and comprehensive ongoing fertility treatment to give them the best chance of having a family in the future.

Who is eligible for this service?

Any NSW resident with a medical need who is referred by their doctor can access the fertility preservation service at the Fertility and Research Centre.The Fertility and Research Centre at The Royal Hospital for Women(9382 6666)

What if I am in a regional or remote location?

People based in a regional or remote location may be eligible for financial assistance for specialist treatment under theIsolated Patient Travel and Accommodation Scheme (IPTAAS).

What about my privacy?

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. This is outlined in the Privacy Statement for Specialists and the Privacy Statement for Patients.

To protect your privacy, the NSW Ministry of Health does not accept personal information via email. When applying for the Pre-IVF Testing Rebate your personal information provided via the Service NSW application will be held in a secure database maintained by Service NSW and accessible to NSW Ministry of Health.

More information on how your personal information is managed can be found at Privacy and Service NSW - Privacy.