BEIJING—As of September 1, 2024, a total of 19 provinces, municipalities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Bingtuan) have incorporated assisted reproductive technology (ART) into their medical insurance reimbursement schemes. This move marks a significant expansion in healthcare coverage, with regions such as Beijing, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and others now offering financial support for fertility treatments.
Beijing set the precedent on July 1, 2023, by including 16 therapeutic ART procedures in its basic medical insurance coverage. This initiative was further bolstered in February 2022 when the city added 16 common outpatient ART services, including intrauterine artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and sperm selection, to the reimbursement scope of Class A medical insurance.
However, due to the high costs and diversity of ART services, the policy was temporarily suspended and resumed on July 1, 2023. The resumption of this policy is expected to alleviate some of the financial burdens faced by couples seeking fertility treatments and could potentially lead to a higher uptake of these services.
This expansion of medical insurance coverage for ART reflects China’s ongoing efforts to improve access to healthcare services and reduce the financial barriers associated with fertility treatments. It also highlights the government’s commitment to supporting family planning and reproductive health initiatives. – Flcube.com
