Gyeonggi-do Abolishes 'Female Age Criteria' for Infertility Treatment Support Starting June

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province abolished the differentiated support criteria for treatment costs by women's age in the 'Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project' starting from the 1st of this month.

As a result, all criteria that hindered support for infertility treatments, including income, residence, number of treatments, and age, have been abolished or resolved, allowing more infertile couples to receive treatments with peace of mind.

The Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project provides financial support for in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination treatments. Until now, due to health risks associated with advanced maternal age, support amounts were differentiated based on the age of 45 (female).

However, Gyeonggi Province judged that full support is necessary for infertile couples who want children amid the ultra-low birthrate situation, and decided to apply the same support amount to women aged 45 and older as those 44 and younger.

With this measure, infertile women residing in Gyeonggi Province will receive the same amount of support regardless of age. The detailed support amounts are ▲up to 1,100,000 KRW for fresh embryos ▲up to 500,000 KRW for frozen embryos ▲up to 300,000 KRW for artificial insemination.

Applicants wishing to receive support can apply through the public health center in charge of the woman's address or online (Government24), then submit the issued support decision notice to the infertility treatment medical institution.

Earlier, in July last year, Gyeonggi Province abolished the income criterion that only supported those with income below 180% of the median income to reduce the economic burden on infertile households.

Then, from January this year, the residency requirement was changed to residence in Gyeonggi Province for at least six months as of the application date, and from February, the limit on infertility treatment support, previously capped at 21 times, was expanded to 25 times.

Yu Young-cheol, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Wellness Bureau, said, "Since last year, Gyeonggi Province has been gradually expanding the 'Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project' to remove obstacles to pregnancy and childbirth for infertile couples," adding, "It is necessary to provide more active support to infertile couples with a clear intention to give birth, and we will continue to strive to alleviate the burden on infertile families."