Province increases funding for fertility treatments for N.B. families
The average cost of one round of IVF is $20,000 in New Brunswick
New Brunswick families that struggle to have children will be reimbursed for some costly fertility treatments.
The provincial government is spending $1.9 million to cover the cost of one round of in vitro fertilization and other forms of insemination for patients in need.
Premier Susan Holt made the announcement Wednesday at the province's only fertility clinic in Moncton. She said the support is overdue.
"There are barriers that exist to making these kinds of dreams come true," she said. "At the end of the day, it shouldn't matter how much money you have if you want to have a family."
The funding is in addition to an existing provincial grant program which provides a maximum of $5,000 to patients for treatment.
"In this day and age, $5,000 does not cover the cost of these treatments," Holt said, adding that fertility treatments in this province cost an average of $20,000 per round.
The provincial funding also comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney made a campaign promise earlier this month that the Liberals would introduce a new IVF program that funds up to $20,000 per round of treatment.
Carney also said he would work with provinces and territories to ensure all Canadians can access the new program, which Holt said came as a pleasant surprise.
"I think with those two commitments on the table, I think New Brunswickers' needs will be well served."
When asked whether the program could expand if the promised funding runs out, Holt said her team estimates that the $1.9 million will be enough to cover all patients who currently need treatment in New Brunswick.
She also said they would re-evaluate "to make sure no one is prevented from accessing fertility health care because of their financial situation."
At the announcement, Holt held back tears as she shared her own struggle with fertility. She said she and her husband had to weigh the cost of treatment with their desire to start a family.
"It was a really tough time for my husband and I," the mother of three said. "We had to look at whether we could afford it — whether we could afford to have a family."
1 in 6 Canadians experience infertility
Brigitte Laplante of Dieppe and her husband Patrick have been trying to start a family for three years.
Laplante was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormonal disorder which can cause fertility issues.
The 27-year-old is in the early stages of fertility treatments and said not knowing whether their future will include having children weighs on them emotionally.
"I would be lying if I said it was easy," Laplante said.
She said people don't understand that the question "When are you having kids?" can be hurtful.
"Deep down, it's breaking people."
The Laplantes have discussed taking out loans or remortgaging their home to afford treatment. And she said seeing her friends and family get pregnant was difficult.
"It's a constant thought behind everything going on of, 'Am I ever going to experience that?'"
Carolynn Dubé, executive director of Fertility Matters Canada, said one in six Canadians experience infertility. She said historically, a patient's ability to have a baby depended on their income and where they live.
"In a province like New Brunswick, where we've seen population challenges and a declining birth rate, this matters a lot," she said about the province's funding.
Dubé said many people who want children but can't have them naturally are being "priced out" of parenthood due to a lack of resources. She said even if families can afford treatment on their own, a single round of treatment does not guarantee positive results.
"In jurisdictions where public funding for fertility care exists, IVF babies comprise five to ten per cent of the total number of babies born. That number drops to two to three per cent in regions without funding."
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