Hanam-si Expands Infertility Treatment Support from 25 Times per Infertile Couple to 25 Times per Birth

Additional 25 Sessions Support for Second and Third Child
Abolishment of Age-Based Self-Payment Rate Classification

Gyeonggi Hanam City (Mayor Lee Hyun-jae) announced that starting from November, the support for infertility treatment costs for infertile couples will be expanded from the existing ‘25 treatments per infertile couple’ (5 artificial inseminations, 20 in vitro fertilizations) to ‘25 treatments per childbirth.’

Panoramic view of Hanam City Hall. Provided by Hanam City

With the treatment support, which was previously limited to ‘a total of 25 treatments per infertile couple,’ increased to ‘25 treatments per childbirth,’ couples who had exhausted all 25 treatments for their first child can now receive an additional 25 treatments for their second and third children.

Additionally, the age-based distinction in the patient’s share of costs has been abolished, so women aged 45 and over will now have their out-of-pocket rate for infertility treatments reduced from 50% to 30%, the same as women under 45, thereby easing the medical expense burden.

Furthermore, in cases where treatment fails or must be discontinued due to involuntary reasons unrelated to the patient’s will, such as empty follicles or immature eggs during the infertility treatment process, medical expenses of up to 1.1 million KRW for fresh embryos and up to 500,000 KRW for frozen embryos can be supported.

Previously, since May of this year, Hanam City has provided up to 500,000 KRW through the ‘Gyeonggi-do Treatment Interruption Medical Expense Support Project’ for cases where infertility treatment was discontinued due to medical reasons such as empty follicles, poor ovarian response, premature ovulation, or poor endometrium. This support is provided separately from the ‘Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project,’ which offers additional support.

However, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare guidelines, support is first provided through the ‘Gyeonggi-do Treatment Interruption Medical Expense Support Project,’ and if the cause of discontinuation is empty follicles or immature/abnormal eggs, additional expenses incurred are supported through the ‘Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project.’

For example, if fresh embryo treatment is discontinued due to empty follicles and medical expenses of 1.1 million KRW are billed, 500,000 KRW will be supported through the Gyeonggi-do Treatment Interruption Medical Expense Support Project, and the remaining 600,000 KRW difference will be additionally supported through the Infertile Couples Treatment Cost Support Project.

The application applies to cases where the egg retrieval date is after the 1st of the month, and for more details, inquiries can be made to the Maternal and Child Health Office at Misa Health Center.

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae said, “Through the policy to expand support for infertility treatment costs, we hope to reduce the economic burden on families wishing to have children,” and added, “Hanam City will continue to strive to create an environment conducive to healthy pregnancy and childbirth.”