TORONTO — The Ontario government is set to significantly enhance access to publicly funded fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), through a $150 million investment aimed at expanding the program across the province.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that this new funding will be distributed over the next two years, with plans to triple the number of families eligible for government-funded fertility treatments at hospitals and clinics.
Currently, the Ontario Fertility Program operates through 50 clinics, providing services such as IVF, intrauterine insemination, and fertility preservation. Under the existing framework, each patient is entitled to one publicly funded IVF cycle during their lifetime.
Further details regarding the expansion of these services are expected to be unveiled in the spring budget.
In addition to the program expansion, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has proposed a new tax credit that would come into effect in January. This credit will cover up to 25% of eligible expenses, which include IVF cycles, fertility medications, travel for treatment, and diagnostic testing, with a cap of $5,000 per year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 24, 2024.
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