Aggregated News
After years of pressure, Ontario has agreed to help infertile women under 43 get pregnant by paying for in vitro fertilization — but patients will still have to cover the cost of expensive drugs.
The new coverage will take effect in December at a cost of $50 million a year to taxpayers, providing one cycle of IVF to about 4,000 women annually regardless of sexual and gender orientation or family status.
That means singles, surrogates and same-sex couples will be eligible.
“Infertility is a serious medical issue,” Health Minister Eric Hoskins, a physician and father, said at an east-end child care centre Thursday, noting that families now come in many forms.
“It’s impossible to describe the joy that having a child brings to your life.”
Until now, Ontario has helped fund IVF only for women with blocked fallopian tubes.
Advocates said the new policy, which makes Ontario the only province outside Quebec to cover IVF treatments, will save many parents from deeper debt.
“There is an incredible cost,” said Sandra Alsaffawi-David of the IVF advocacy group Conceivable Dreams, who spoke...