Facing a big IVF bill? Here are five ways to reduce the cost
An IVF cycle can cost up to $15,000 in Australia, while egg freezing may cost around $8000. With more Australians delaying parenthood while they build careers, pay off debt and save for a home, many are discovering that starting a family can come with a significant financial burden.
My adult kids aren't in a hurry to start a family. They have busy lives: working, juggling their bills, paying off student debt, trying to save and accumulating a deposit for a home.
They aren't alone. The average age of first-time mothers is rising and reached 30 in 2023.
Why delaying parenthood can affect fertility
Putting off having a baby too long can have an impact on fertility.
One in six couples suffer infertility, according to the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand.
While many can be successfully treated with medical or surgical techniques, or lifestyle changes, women and men are increasingly turning to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other reproductive technologies to start a family.
In fact, about 6% of babies born in Australia are conceived through IVF.
IVF costs at a glance
- IVF cycle: up to $15,000
- Egg freezing: around $8000
- About 6% of Australian babies are conceived through IVF
- One in six couples experience infertility
- Some states offer fertility rebates of up to $2000
- Public fertility services may be available in some states
How much does IVF cost in Australia?
How much IVF will cost can be difficult to estimate because there isn't one fee.
"IVF costs vary a lot depending on an IVF clinic's fees, what services are included in the cycle, whether you are eligible for Medicare rebates or have reached any Medicare safety net and if you have private health insurance," explains Your IVF Success, the government fertility information site that helps people navigate through the maze of IVF.
It is important to understand other IVF costs in addition to the cycle costs and ask about fees for day surgery, anaesthetists, storing frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and any add-ons the clinic may recommend as part of your treatment.
IVF is expensive with a private provider and a financial burden for families and singles who are desperate to have a child. An IVF cycle can cost up to $15,000 in Australia, while egg freezing costs $8000 for the first cycle.
There is intense competition among fertility providers, in particular for services such as IVF.
Many clinics provide loans for IVF treatments and services to help people access superannuation savings early, on compassionate grounds.
Five ways to make IVF more affordable
1. IVF rebates and government support
There are ways to cut IVF costs with the help of government rebates.
2. Go public
Some public hospitals offer free assisted reproductive services, if you meet the eligibility criteria, as an alternative to going private.
3. Bulk billing
Increasingly, IVF clinics bulk bill for some of the Medicare-eligible expenses, rather than charge the full amount. Australia is one of the few countries that has substantial government funding for IVF in the form of Medicare rebates to help make fertility treatments more affordable.
4. Company subsidies
Companies such as Meta and Apple started offering egg freezing as a benefit to US employees in late 2014 by subsidising the cost of elective egg freezing to help young female employees who may not be ready to have a child but would value the opportunity later in life.
It has caught on around the world.
There are companies in Australia with progressive human resources programs that pay for IVF. Several companies offer fertility leave too.
5. Accessing your superannuation
Applying for early release of super to fund IVF treatment is another option. But this option comes with a warning: raiding your superannuation will have a profound impact on your super balance at retirement because super relies on the compounding effect of your savings.
It's worth noting that while both men and women can apply to use their superannuation for IVF treatment, it is often women who dip into their super. As women typically have less superannuation than men, they need to protect what they have.
How to compare IVF clinic success rates
As well as the costs, you also want to know the success rate of an IVF clinic before you sign up. In Sydney, for example, there are 25 accredited clinics. Which one do you choose?
There is a ratings service measuring the success of IVF clinics against the national average run by the government with UNSW. See YourIVFSuccess.com.au.
The ratings service measures the success of clinics' fertility procedures such as births per complete egg retrieval cycle, births per individual treatment attempt, births per embryo transferred and pregnancies per individual treatment attempt. It urges anyone considering IVF to use the calculator on YourIVFSuccess.com.au for an individualised assessment.
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