Does Medicare cover IVF?
Yes. Australians continue to have access to highly specialised fertility treatments thanks to the support of the Federal Government and the Australian community. The majority of fertility treatment costs are covered by Medicare and if you have private health insurance your costs may be further reduced.
How much of my IVF treatment will be covered by Medicare?
Most of the cost of your IVF treatment will be eligible for a Medicare rebate. You need a current doctor referral to be eligible for a Medicare rebate. A referral from a General Practitioner lasts 12 months whereas a referral from another specialist such as an obstetrician/gynaecologist lasts 3 months.
Is the Medicare rebate means tested?
No, rebates are not means tested. Rebates are available to all holders of a current Medicare card.
What if I don’t have IVF, what other treatments are covered?
As well as IVF, most ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) treatments receive some level of rebate including IUI (intra-uterine insemination), Frozen Embryo Transfer, and ICSI. Ovulation induction only receives a rebate when it involves an
insemination procedure.
What does not receive a Medicare rebate?
- The cost of some drugs;
- the costs of day surgery (though some rebate is available for the cost of the
anaesthetist and your health fund may cover the day surgery costs fully);
out of area monitoring, (some patients choose to have cycle monitoring not using
- IVFAustralia facilities, in this case IVFAustralia is sent an invoice from the scan
and pathology companies which is passed on to the patient; and
some specialised procedures such as surgical sperm collection, assisted hatching,
- PolScope and embryo and semen storage (cryostorage).
How many IVF cycles do Medicare cover – is there a limit on the number of cycles I can have and what I can claim?
There are no limits to the amount that can be claimed. All IVF cycles and ART procedures you undergo are eligible to receive a Medicare rebate.
How much will be refunded by Medicare?
This is determined by Medicare. However, the table below lists the average rebate for IVFAustralia’s patients.
How do I claim my rebate?
IVFAustralia will lodge the claim for your Medicare rebate on your behalf. All you need to do is to fill in a form registering your bank details with Medicare. This form is available at reception. IVFAustralia administration staff will make the claim for you within 1 -2 working days after you have completed your treatment ie after embryo transfer or after your IUI. If you do not wish to register your bank details with Medicare, they will send you a cheque. This can take some weeks.
How long do I have to wait to get my rebate?
Medicare will deposit your rebate directly into your account within 3 to 5 days after receiving the claim from IVFAustralia, provided you have registered your
bank details with Medicare.
What if my cycle is cancelled?
There is no refund for any drugs you have received. Part if not most of your upfront fee will be refunded if your cycle is cancelled. The amount will depend on
where you are up to when your cycle is cancelled.
Can I claim anything from my private health insurance?
Many Health Funds provide cover for some of the costs of day surgery and for some of the drugs used in treatment. We would advise you check with your Health Fund as to your level of cover and what you might expect back.
Why is treatment at IVFAustralia more affordable than other clinics?
While every patient is managed by their own individual fertility specialist who provides
personalized care, your doctor is part of the larger IVFAustralia group and one of the benefits are the cost savings which are passed on to our patients. Efficiencies are achieved by streamlining our administrative processes and central purchasing of the drugs and other products needed to treat patients.
What is the Medicare Safety Net?
The Medicare Safety Net and Extended Medicare Safety Net provides a rebate for people with large medical expenses. The Extended Medicare Safety Net provides a capped rebate for IVF related treatment once an annual threshold (in 2011 this threshold is $1157.50) has been reached. Your Safety Net entitlement commences at the start of each calendar year and once you have reached the threshold, Medicare will rebate a proportion of your upfront payment for most medical services that are provided outside a hospital (ie where you were not admitted to a hospital).
When you start treatment with IVFAustralia, our administration staff will explain in detail the breakdown of all the costs of your treatment with you and answer any further questions you may have.