IVF ‘only for the rich’ under proposed Medicare safety net changes

FERTILITY experts have blasted the proposed Medicare safety net changes set to go to the Senate tomorrow claiming only the rich will be able to afford IVF if the changes go through.

FERTILITY experts have blasted the planned Medicare safety net changes set to go before the Senate tomorrow, claiming it will mean only the rich will be able to afford IVF.

In a move aimed at saving $226 million over five years, changes to the safety net will likely increase out-of-pocket expenses for an IVF cycle from $4000 to $5000, according to Fertility Society president ­Michael Chapman.

“Patients who are now out of pocket $3500 to $4000 will be paying $5000 to $5500 depending on the clinic,” he said.

“The impact of that is going to be greater.”

Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said the average cost of an initial IVF cycle would rise only slightly from $2720 to $2730, while the cost of a second cycle would increase from $5085 to $5398.

But Professor Chapman said the government’s modelling was based on “three or four clinics” and not the 70 or more clinics that charge more.

“When Labor fiddled with the safety net in 2009 there were 1500 less ­babies born from IVF in 2010,” Prof Chapman said.

The fertility support group Access Australia’s Sandra Dill said it equated to IVF babies being only for the wealthy.

“It’s a big jump,” Ms Dill said.

“Sussan Ley said they looked at postcodes and people accessing IVF were from more affluent postcodes, but that is because those less well-off can’t afford the existing out-of-pocket costs.”

Asta Cachia and her husband, a returned soldier on a total and permanent disability pension, have been saving up for six years for IVF.

“Our last round was unsuccessful and we did not even end up with any frozen embryos,” Ms Cachia said.

“I have no other option but IVF.”

The 38-year-old and her 40-year-old husband don’t think they will be able to afford any further IVF treatments on their income unless they sell their home: “If costs increase we will never be able to afford it.”