"Let's Overcome Low Birthrate"... Ulsan City Greatly Expands Support for Infertile Couples' Treatment Costs

Income-Independent Expansion of Support for In Vitro Fertilization Procedures

Ulsan City has decided to address the low birthrate issue by expanding financial support for infertility treatment for couples.

Until now, Ulsan City has provided treatment cost support only to infertile couples with an income below 180% of the median income, but starting from January this year, it will support all infertile couples regardless of income level.

In addition, from February, the number of supported in vitro fertilization (fresh and frozen) treatments will be increased from the current 16 times to 20 times.

Furthermore, the previous limits on the number of supported IVF treatments (9 times for fresh embryos, 7 times for frozen embryos) have been lifted, and the age-based differential support, which was divided around age 45, has been abolished.

The support targets infertile couples residing in Ulsan City based on the woman’s resident registration and receiving health insurance-covered assisted reproductive technology, providing up to 1.1 million KRW per treatment, with a total limit of 25 treatments (20 for IVF combined, 5 for artificial insemination).

Starting in April, two new projects will be launched to take the lead in solving the low birthrate problem: support for assisted reproductive technology using frozen eggs (up to 1 million KRW per treatment, maximum twice per couple) and pre-pregnancy health management support (up to 150,000 KRW per couple for essential fertility examinations).

An official from Ulsan City stated, “In this ultra-low birthrate situation, we will provide more active support to infertile couples who wish to have children and create Ulsan as a ‘city good for having and raising children.’”