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The cost of a family

It has been proven that 'in-vitro fertilisation is three to seven times more expensive for women aged over 42'. For a woman aged 30 and under the average cost is $24,809, however this jumps dramatically to $97,884 for women over 40 and $182,794 for women over 42.

The reason for this added expense is due to ‘the natural decline in a woman’s fertility’, however older women make up quite a small percentage of overall IVF recipients.

Earlier in 2005 ‘Health Minister Tony Abbott controversially proposed limiting Medicare funding for IVF to 3 treatments a year for women aged up to 42 and 3 in total for women older than 42’. The proposed justification is a federal cost saving. However, as the cost of non-donor IVF treatments account for less than 1% of total Medicare benefits paid in 2004 there isn’t much room for cost cutting.

The report will be published in The Medical Journal of Australia.

Here at heinzforbaby.com.au we want to know how you feel about IVF and the right to access by older women...Let us know...

Source: The Age – Melbourne Australia. By Wendy Frew December 19th 2005

 Comment Preview


Hoek


Posts: -1
If the community is so concerned about medical (in this case IVF) cost for the "older" members of our society then perhaps they need to be more consistent. Consider restricting care to those say older than retirement age??? No heart care after 60, no cancer care after 70 and no orthopaedics after 65 etc etc!! I can't see this happening so why again the emotional blackmail regarding women's reproductive processes??
Posted: 2006/1/5 0:39
Updated: 2006/1/5 15:15

 Comment Preview


bobs mum


Posts: -1
Having had 3 of our 4 children by IVF and having been through the whole roller coaster of emotions that go with it, I cannot begin to imagine how I would have felt if I had been told that I could only try 3 times each year. Unless you have been through it you cannot understand the emotional turmoil and pressure one is under. To then be told by the government "sorry your time is up, try again next year" is an absolute insult. (By the way, I was 32 when we had our first two children)
Posted: 2007/2/28 15:35
Updated: 2007/3/9 17:05

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