Numerous Chinese cities have recently intensified efforts to alleviate the financial burden on parents seeking fertility services by expanding reimbursement coverage for medical bills. Notably, some cities are now incorporating in-vitro fertilization (IVF) into their basic medical insurance systems.
Effective February 1, Gansu Province in Northwest China will extend coverage to 12 assisted reproductive medical services, including oocyte retrieval, within the framework of basic medical insurance payments.
According to a 2021 report by China Central Television, the infertility rate among couples of childbearing age in China increased from 12 percent in 2007 to 18 percent in 2020. Assisted reproductive technology, encompassing methods like artificial insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), has become crucial in addressing infertility issues.
IVF, a widely used but financially demanding technique, often requires a significant financial commitment, with costs reaching tens of thousands of yuan due to multiple attempts being common for success.
In 2023, Beijing and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China initiated similar benefits, and other provinces such as Henan and Shaanxi are in the process of implementing reimbursement plans for assisted reproductive technology within their medical insurance coverage.
A patient from Beijing, surnamed Liu, who underwent IVF for two years, shared with the Global Times that her bills have decreased by approximately one-third since the inclusion of IVF in medical insurance. Liu expressed hope for additional procedures to be covered by medical insurance, highlighting the relief experienced.
Observing a significant rise in out-of-town patients seeking reproductive assistance at Peking University Third Hospital since 2023, Liu attributed this to the hospital’s cross-regional medical insurance payment support, facilitating accessibility for individuals from regions with IVF and fertility services covered in basic medical insurance.
Simultaneously, several regions are enhancing basic medical benefits for childbirth. Baoji, in Shaanxi Province, introduced measures to optimize fertility policies, including covering prenatal examination costs and increasing subsidies for urban employees.
Jiangxi Province plans to boost reimbursement levels for medical expenses related to childbirth, specifically for female employees and unemployed spouses of male employees, with the maximum payment limit for outpatient childbirth rising from 800 yuan to 1200 yuan.
These recent local government initiatives to alleviate pressures on women of childbearing age coincide with the upcoming release of China’s annual population data by the National Bureau of Statistics. Despite concerns from some Western media about a potential population collapse in China, experts argue that building a comprehensive supportive system for childbirth is crucial for addressing demographic challenges.
As the Chinese mainland records negative population growth for the first time in 61 years, decreasing by 850,000 in 2022, discussions during the 2023 two sessions involved at least 20 Chinese lawmakers advocating for fertility encouragement.
Demographers stress that increasing the birth rate is a long-term strategy, with preferential policies serving as one facet of creating a fertility-friendly society, providing extensive support and welfare to individuals willing to start a family.
