(Credits)
Thinking of doing IVF, but not sure if you’ll be able to handle the costs? Here’s some good news: under the Ministry of Health’s Marriage and Parenthood Schemes, Singaporean couples are eligible to apply for IVF subsidies when they undergo IVF treatment. Read on to find out more!
How much IVF subsidies can you get?
As of 2018, couples can apply for up to 75% worth of IVF subsidies. The government terms this a “co-funding” scheme.
Co-funding is available for a maximum of 3 fresh and 3 frozen IVF cycles. As seen above, the amount of co-funding varies from 35% to 75% depending on the couple’s citizenship.
What is the eligibility for IVF co-funding?
To be eligible, you have to meet the following conditions:
You have started or are scheduled to start your IVF cycle at a public hospital on or after 1st April 2018
You are below 40 years of age at the start of the IVF cycle
You have not already received 3 co-funded fresh and 3 co-funded frozen cycles in the past
You have been assessed by a doctor, and found to have met the clinical requirements for IVF; and
You OR your spouse is a Singapore Citizen at the start of the IVF cycle.
How do you apply for the IVF co-funding scheme?
To apply for the co-funding scheme, you’ll need to fill up a declaration form that’s provided by your hospital. After the hospital has verified that you are eligible for co-funding, it will process your bill accordingly.
Can you use Medisave to pay for the portion of the IVF bill not covered by the co-funding scheme?
MediSave can be used to pay for co-funded IVF cycles (and cycles that are not co-funded as well). Couples can withdraw up to $6,000, $5,000 and $4,000 from their MediSave accounts for the first, second and third IVF cycles respectively.
Are there subsidies for other forms of fertility treatment?
The same co-funding scheme that you can use to foot part of your IVF bill also covers other Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures. This includes intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in-vitro maturation, donor cycles, double stimulation cycles, and gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT). Do note that initial consultations, fertility tests and investigations prior to a patient’s decision to start fertility treatment are not covered.
What should you do if you’re not eligible for the co-funding scheme?
Couples who aren’t eligible for the co-funding scheme can consider taking on less expensive fertility treatments such as Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Couples may also use their MediSave to defray the costs of these treatments.
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