Ontario Expands Fertility Program with $150 Million Investment

The Ontario government has announced a $150 million investment over two years to expand the Ontario Fertility Program. This expansion aims to reduce waitlists and increase the number of families accessing government-funded fertility services in hospitals and community clinics. The program will now be available at more clinics, providing patients with additional options for publicly funded fertility services.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce a new tax credit starting January 2025. This credit is intended to alleviate the financial burden on individuals seeking fertility treatment. The proposed tax credit would cover up to 25% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $5,000 per year. Eligible expenses include IVF cycles, fertility medications, travel for treatment, and diagnostic testing.

Since the inception of the Ontario Fertility Program, over 107,000 Ontarians have received funding to assist in building their families. This includes 42,741 patients who have received publicly funded IVF services, 59,448 patients for IUI services, and 4,857 patients for fertility preservation services.

The government has allocated $150 million to expand access to fertility services over the next two years, with further details expected in the 2025 Budget. Under the program, each patient is eligible for one publicly funded IVF cycle in their lifetime, with an additional cycle available for those acting as surrogates.