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A fertility charity has criticised proposed eligibility criteria for a new fertility treatment funding model – which will only fund three IVF cycles for households with an annual income of less than £82,300 – as "limiting with clear gaps".
Health and Community Services today published proposed criteria for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) funding after politicians backed an amended proposition earlier this year.
The new criteria would replace the current system that only funds IVF for couples with a combined income of less than £40,795.
Pictured: The maximum number of funded IVF cycles you may be eligible for is based on gross household income.
Under the new model, all couples would be eligible for one funded cycle – irrespective of household income.
And households with a gross annual income of less than £200,000 could be eligible for two funded cycles.
Funded IVF is only available to couples. This includes same-sex female couples who meet the criteria.
To qualify for funding, the woman must be under 40, or aged 40 to 42 and have undergone tests showing they are likely to respond to treatment.
In addition to the financial criteria, couples must also meet a set of additional specifications.
This includes the requirement for the couple to be in a stable relationship, and for both partners to be childless – including children from previous relationships.
Pictured: To be eligible for IVF funding, neither your or your partner can have children – including adopted and biological children, and children from previous relationships.
Chloe Fosse, Governor of fertility charity Tiny Seeds, described the new criteria as "limiting with clear gaps" – but said that she is "positive that this is just the start for fair and equitable IVF funding in Jersey".
She explained: “While Tiny Seeds recognise that the criteria is still limiting with clear gaps, it does mean that many people will now be able to access between one and three fully funded cycles of IVF.
"It also hopefully sets a precedent for improved access for even more people in the future – something the charity will continue to campaign for.
"We thank our politicians for listening and recognising that change is so desperately needed and we feel positive that this is just the start for fair and equitable IVF funding in Jersey.”
The new criteria will be introduced from 1 January 2025 if the States Assembly approve the funding as part of the Government Plan debate, scheduled for November 2024.
The Budget proposes increasing funding for IVF by £620,000 per year from 2025.
Assistant Health Minister, Deputy Andy Howell said: “We are pleased to be able to bring forward the proposed new criteria for funded IVF treatment which we hope will assist many more couples who are struggling to have a family.
“We thank all those who have helped shape these proposals.”
She added: “We are publishing the proposed criteria now, ahead of the States Assembly confirming the necessary funding, because we know that couples who are experiencing difficulties with conceiving need time to plan.”
Full details of the proposals are available HERE.
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