Update: this is just within BC and the Yukon and looking into changes that sadly may significantly reduce the fees. I’m looking into it.
Pacific Blue Cross became the first to offer a personal health insurance plan in Canada that includes family planning benefits, such as fertility medication and treatment like IUI and in vitro fertilization (IVF). This is a positive step in the right direction and opens up the possibility that you can pay for the treatment you need to try and build your family. I know how hard it can be to see finances as the giant block in the baby-making road.
The road is cleared a bit, with this burden potentially lifted.
This opens up opportunities to finally get a break on paying for your treatment and taking a step closer to having the baby you’ve been trying for.
This is only for Canadians living in British Columbia or the Yukon right now.
Here are some quick FAQs.
- You must first sign up and pay for a monthly plan. Once you start paying month, you’ll have access to other healthcare in in the meantime, but not fertility benefits yet.
- The price varies, but usually starting at $50 a month for a single or $80 for a couple or $100 for a larger family. In all likelihood you’d be accessing the $50 or $80, for obvious reasons.
- It takes one year to be able to access the fertility benefits. Once you’ve been paying in to the plan for a minimum of $600 ($50/month) then you have access to the fertility benefits.
- The benefit is up to $5000 for fertility medication and $5000 for treatment like IUI and IVF per year. This would be available after the 1 year waiting period.
- For medication, you pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed.
- This plan is launching in June 2023. That means the fertility benefits wouldn’t be realized until June 2024 at the earliest. It’s starting in BC and Yukon and plans to expand.
- It includes coverage for adoption planning too.
- It doesn’t include donor sperm or donor eggs, unfortunately.
- It does include egg freezing.
- Testings such as EMMA and ALICE, ERA and NIPT are covered.
I am not affiliated with Pacific Blue Cross in any way.
This coverage doesn’t replace the important need for the provincial financial coverage that everyone deserves and we’ll keep advocating for that. More on this when I was interested on CTV.
I also know that waiting a year isn’t ideal. It’s not now. I’ll do what I can to get the word out about applying for this early so that it’s available, just in case too.
What are your thoughts? Comment below.