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Quebec in-vitro fertilization: A breakdown of new restrictions on treatment

Funding for fertility treatment in Quebec has been dramatically altered with the passing of Bill 20 on Tuesday. Here's a look at the changes.

Legislation passed this week ended generous provincial program to pay for IVF treatment introduced in 2010

CBC News ·
Quebec began covering all the costs of in-vitro fertilization treatment back in 2010. (CBC)

Funding for fertility treatment in Quebec has been dramatically altered with the passing of Bill 20 on Tuesday.

Quebec began covering all the costs of in-vitro fertilization back in 2010, allowing couples to receive compensation for up to three full IVF attempts. 

Here's a breakdown of what the original program looked like when it was introduced in 2010 and what it looks like now.

Quebec IVF treatment in 2010

  • Quebec Health Minister Gaétan Barrette introduced the changes as part of Bill 20. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)
    Couples were eligible for compensation for up to three full IVF attempts.
  • Couples who successfully had a child using the publicly funded IVF system could access it again.
  • The program was widely applauded but quickly ran over-budget.

    • Quebec IVF treatment now

    • Couples who want to access IVF will have to pay for the procedure up front — at a cost of about $10,000.
    • They will get some money back based on a sliding scale of tax credits.
    • The scale ranges from 80 per cent of costs for couples with a family income of less than $50,000 to 20 per cent of costs for families who earn more than $120,000 a year.
    • Only childless couples will be able to benefit from the tax credits.
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