All You Need To Know About IVF Rebates
Navigating IVF costs can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re comparing clinics or beginning your fertility journey for the first time. The good news is that in Australia, we have access to generous Medicare rebates, support through the Medicare Safety Net, and in many cases, additional help from private health insurance.
This guide explains how IVF rebates work, what you may be eligible to claim and how Fertility North supports you through every step.
Understanding IVF Rebates in Australia
In Australia, fertility treatment is subsidised through our national healthcare system, Medicare. If you have a medical diagnosis of infertility and an eligible referral, you can receive Medicare rebates for many aspects of your fertility treatment. These rebates significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for services such as specialist consultations, IVF/ICSI cycles, frozen embryo transfers (FET), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and Ovulation Induction (OI).
In addition to Medicare, private health insurance may cover certain hospital-related fees for IVF procedures, such as egg collection, helping further reduce costs depending on your level of cover.
At Fertility North, we aim to make every step of this process straightforward, so you have clear expectations about treatment fees and how much you can claim back.
Medicare IVF Rebates Explained
Medicare provides rebates for a wide range of fertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services when performed for medically diagnosed infertility. These typically include:
- Specialist fertility consultations
- Ovulation induction (OI) cycles
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) cycles
- IVF and ICSI cycles
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycles
There is no limit on the number of IVF cycles for which Medicare will provide rebates within a calendar year. Each cycle is assessed independently, and rebates are applied to the relevant Medicare item numbers used during your treatment.
Eligibility requirements
To claim Medicare rebates for IVF or fertility services, you must have:
- A medical diagnosis of infertility
- A current referral from your GP (valid 12 months) or specialist (valid 3 months)
Some services are not eligible for Medicare rebates. For example, elective egg freezing (egg freezing for non-medical reasons) is not claimable.
How to Claim IVF Rebates
Fertility North uses Medicare electronic claiming, which means you don’t need to lodge claims yourself. As long as your bank details are registered with Medicare, rebates are deposited directly into your account—usually within 3 to 5 business days.
If you prefer not to register your bank details, Medicare can issue a cheque, though processing may take longer (typically around two weeks).
We’ll provide clear itemised invoices and can help you track claimable services, especially if you are close to reaching the Medicare Safety Net.
Medicare Safety Net: Maximising Your IVF Rebates
The Medicare Safety Net provides additional financial support when your out-of-pocket medical expenses reach a set threshold within a calendar year. Once you reach this threshold, Medicare covers 80% of the gap fees on eligible out-of-hospital services, including many fertility treatment costs.
Understanding Your Safety Net Eligibility
What counts toward the Safety Net?
Eligible (out-of-hospital) costs that count include any Medicare-rebatable services, such as:
- GP consultations
- Fertility specialist consultations
- IVF cycle fees billed by the clinic
- Monitoring, ultrasound and blood tests performed outside of hospital
What doesn’t count?
- Hospital admissions
- Day surgery theatre fees
- Anaesthetist costs
- Fees charged by private hospitals
These in-hospital charges are normally addressed through private health insurance, not Medicare.
Combined Safety Net for couples
If you’re undergoing treatment with a partner, register as a Medicare family. This allows both partners’ eligible medical expenses to combine toward the same Safety Net threshold, helping you reach it sooner and access higher rebates earlier. Please note that being on the same Medicare card will not automatically register you as a family; registration is required. This registration can be done online via the Services Australia website.
Private Health Insurance and IVF
Private health insurance does not cover the clinical components of IVF (these fall under Medicare), but it may cover hospital-related services.
Depending on your policy, private health may cover or reimburse:
- Day surgery fees for egg collection
- Theatre charges
- Anaesthetist fees
- Surgeon fees
- Inpatient services during procedures
If you do not have private health cover, you may pay around $2,000-$3,000 out of pocket for these surgeon, hospital and anaesthesia costs each IVF/ICSI cycle. This varies by insurer, hospital and excess levels. These fees are not usually applicable for patients undergoing other types of ART treatment.
Important considerations
- Many insurers require a 12-month waiting period before fertility-related benefits apply.
- You may need a specific hospital cover tier (usually top cover) that includes pregnancy or fertility.
- Always check your policy for excess, limits and inclusions before commencing treatment.
What IVF Costs Are Not Rebatable?
While Medicare and private health insurance cover a significant portion of IVF-related expenses, some services are not eligible for a rebate. These commonly include:
- Elective egg freezing (fertility preservation)
- Donor sperm or donor egg program related fees
- Cryostorage fees (unless you are eligible for the Government’s ART Storage Funding Program)
- Preimplantation genetic testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A)
- Non-PBS fertility medications
- Supplements
- Some investigative testing, depending on context
- Additional advanced science, such as GM-CSF and Calcium Ionophore Treatment
Your Fertility North team will clearly explain which items are rebatable and which are not before you commence your cycle.
Other Financial Support Options
Your cost of fertility medications can also reduce over time through the PBS Safety Net, which lowers your co-payments once a threshold is met.
Fertility North also offers guidance and support with payment planning, helping patients understand expected out-of-pocket amounts and the timing of rebates.
Support Options
Early Release of Superannuation
You can apply for early access to your superannuation on compassionate grounds to help cover fertility treatment costs like IVF. The Australian Taxation Office allows this if the treatment is medically necessary and recommended by a registered psychiatrist. The process involves submitting medical reports and itemised quotes through an agent like SuperCare, or yourself via MyGov. If approved, your super fund releases the funds. While this can ease financial pressure, it reduces your retirement savings and may have tax implications, so it’s important to seek financial advice before proceeding.
Medical Loans
Medical loans can be a practical way to manage the upfront costs of fertility treatments, allowing you to spread payments over time rather than paying everything at once. These loans are typically unsecured, meaning you don’t need to provide collateral, and they often offer flexible repayment terms and competitive interest rates. Many providers cater specifically to healthcare expenses, and one example is Handypay, which offers quick online applications, fast approvals, and repayment plans tailored to your budget. Before committing, compare lenders, check fees and interest rates, and ensure the repayments fit comfortably within your financial plan.