Provincial Fertility Funding and Coverage in Canada

 

Infertility impacts about one in six people in Canada, and fertility care is also essential for many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and single people seeking to grow their families. Access to treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), however, varies widely across provinces and territories. While some regions offer public funding or tax credits to help offset costs, others provide limited or no support. With the average cost of a single IVF cycle nearing $20,000, the financial burden remains a significant barrier for many Canadians.

As of 2025, nine out of ten provinces offer some form of public funding, tax credits, or reimbursement for fertility treatments, though coverage varies widely.

Alberta

• Alberta remains the only province without any publicly funded fertility program or tax credit for residents as of 2025.
• Coverage: No coverage for IVF, IUI, or related fertility treatments.
• Advocate for Alberta: Fertility Alberta

British Columbia

• Launching a new publicly funded IVF program in July 2025.

• Coverage: One-time funding of up to $19,000 for a single standard IVF cycle (including related medications) for eligible residents. Applications open July 2, 2025.

  • Eligibility requirements (Government of British Columbia)

    B.C. residents who are enrolled in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and meet all other eligibility criteria may receive one-time funding of up to $19,000 for a single standard cycle of IVF treatment at participating B.C. fertility clinics.  

    To be eligible for the publicly funded IVF program, applicants must be:

    • At least 18 years of age

    • 41 years of age or under at time of application, for the applicant undergoing the embryo transfer

    • Enrolled in MSP at the time of application and for the duration of treatment

  • Eligible services (Government of British Columbia)

    IVF treatment must be completed at a participating B.C. fertility clinic. More information regarding participating B.C. fertility clinics will be available once details are finalized. Funding may be applied to:

    • Any part of a standard IVF cycle (including orientation, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, fertilization, blastocyst culture and single embryo transfer; fresh or frozen)

    • Components of a standard IVF cycle with previously frozen eggs

    • Frozen embryo transfer (FET) using previously frozen embryos

    • Required medications

• More Information: BC Government Fertility Funding

Saskatchewan

• Introduced a new Fertility Treatment Tax Credit in March 2025.

• Coverage: Refundable tax credit covers 50% of eligible fertility treatment costs incurred in Saskatchewan, up to $10,000 per tax filer over a lifetime (maximum $20,000 in eligible expenses per couple). The FTTC "includes fertility treatment costs and related prescription drug costs but excludes travel expenses. Eligible costs are net of any reimbursements of fertility treatment fees through private health care coverage (i.e., the tax credit is calculated on eligible expenses net of any reimbursements)"(Saskatchewan Government). Applies to IVF and related expenses for treatments performed in Saskatchewan, retroactive to January 1, 2025.

  • Eligibility criteria (Government of Saskatchewan)

    • Eligible expenses are based on the federal treatment of fertility expenses as determined under subsections 118.2(2) and (2.2) of the federal Income Tax Act.

    • Fees must be paid to a Saskatchewan licensed medical practitioner or fertility treatment clinic in the province of Saskatchewan.

    • One lifetime claim per tax filer beginning in the 2025 taxation year.

    • Fertility expenses in any 12-month period ending in the tax filing year can be claimed (as long as the expenses were not previously claimed in another taxation year).

    • Excludes any reimbursements such as private health care coverage.

    • Excludes the reversal of a vasectomy or tubal ligation.

    • Excludes travel expenses.

    • Excludes the purchase of eggs or sperm outside of Saskatchewan.

• More Information: Saskatchewan Fertility Treatment Tax Credit

Manitoba

• Manitoba continues to offer a generous fertility tax credit.

• Coverage: Residents can claim a refundable tax credit equal to 40% of eligible fertility treatment costs, up to $20,000 per year (maximum annual credit: $8,000). There is no limit on the number of treatments.

  • Eligible expenses (Government of Manitoba)

    The credit applies to medical expenses of an individual, or of the individual's spouse or common-law partner, as determined under subsection 118.2(2) of the federal Income Tax Act that were paid in the taxation year for:

    • fertility treatment services (other than a procedure to reverse an elective sterilization procedure) provided to the individual or to the individual's spouse or common-law partner in Manitoba by a physician or by a clinic that provides those services in Manitoba, or

    • medication prescribed by a physician in Manitoba in relation to fertility treatment services described above whether those services are provided inside or outside Manitoba.

    Starting in the 2024 tax year, the following expenses are also covered:

    • payments to a fertility clinic or donor bank to obtain sperm or ova to enable the conception of a child by the individual, their spouse or common-law partner or a surrogate on behalf of the individual, or

    • payments by the individual or the individual's spouse or common-law partner in respect of a surrogacy expense that is deemed by subsection 118.2(2.21) of the federal Income Tax Act to be a medical expense of the individual;

    The following is a sample list of expenses eligible for the fertility treatment tax credit: ovulation induction, therapeutic donor insemination (TDI), hyperstimulation/intrauterine insemination (HS/IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfer, oocyte donation, assisted hatching, fertility preservation, and testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

    An example of an ineligible procedure would be reversing vasectomies or tubal ligations.

• More Information: Manitoba Fertility Tax Credit

Ontario

• Expanded Ontario Fertility Program with $150 million investment over two years (announced October 2024) to cut waitlists and triple access to funded treatments. Further details to be provided in the 2025 Budget.

• Coverage: One funded IVF cycle per eligible patient (women up to age 43)  and an additional cycle if they have acted or is acting as a surrogate, with no age or cycle limit for IUI. Medications are not covered (approximately $5,000 per IVF cycle). 

  • Eligible Treatment Types and Coverage Limits (Government of Ontario)

Type	What it is	Additional eligibility	Limits on coverage
In-vitro fertilization (IVF)	Manually fertilizing eggs with sperm in a lab, then transferring the embryo into the uterus.	Must be under the age of 43.	One treatment cycle per patient, which includes the one-at-a-time transfer of all viable embryos. One additional cycle if carrying a baby for someone else (acting as a surrogate).
Artificial insemination (AI)	Transferring sperm into the vagina or cervix.	None.	No limit on the number of treatment cycles.
Intra-uterine insemination (IUI)	Injecting sperm directly into the uterus (a type of artificial insemination).	None.	No limit on the number of treatment cycles.
Fertility preservation	Freezing sperm or egg samples to be used later in either artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization.	A medical reason – for example, getting treatment for a medical condition that may cause infertility.	One treatment cycle per patient.

• More Information: Ontario Fertility Program 

Quebec

• Coverage: One fully funded IVF cycle per lifetime for eligible women up to age 41, including associated services such as ovarian stimulation medications, embryo freezing, and storage for one year. Treatment must be performed at an accredited fertility clinic in Quebec.

• Eligibility criteria (Government of Quebec):

  • Applicants must be residents of Quebec and covered under the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

  • Only women aged 18 to 40 (inclusive) at the time of egg retrieval are eligible.

  • Only one funded IVF cycle per person per lifetime.

  Eligible services (Government of Quebec):

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • Embryo freezing and storage (1 year)

  • Fertility medications required for the cycle

  • Pre-implantation diagnostics, when medically indicated

• More Information: Quebec Fertility Program (English) | Francais

New Brunswick

• Offers a one-time fertility grant program.

• Coverage: Provides a one-time grant of up to 50% of eligible costs for IVF or IUI treatments, including related medications, to a maximum of $5,000 per lifetime per household.

• Eligibility criteria (Government of New Brunswick):

  • Applicants must be residents of New Brunswick with a valid Medicare card.

  • Fertility treatments must be completed at a recognized clinic (including those located out-of-province).

  • Proof of infertility diagnosis and treatment costs must be submitted with the application.

  Eligible services (Government of New Brunswick):

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

  • Associated medications

• More Information: New Brunswick Fertility Grant

Nova Scotia

• Coverage: Refundable tax credit of 40% of eligible fertility and surrogacy-related medical expenses, up to $8,000 per year.

• Eligibility criteria (Government of Nova Scotia):

  • Applicants must be Nova Scotia residents and file a provincial income tax return.

  • Credit is based on eligible medical expenses defined under the federal Income Tax Act.

  • Surrogacy-related medical expenses are now included.

  Eligible services (Government of Nova Scotia):

  • IVF and IUI treatments

  • Related prescription medications

  • Eligible surrogacy-related expenses (medical only)

• More Information: Nova Scotia Fertility Tax Credit

Prince Edward Island

• Annual reimbursement program for out-of-province fertility treatments.

• Coverage: Annual reimbursement between $5,000 and $10,000 per household based on family income. Applies to IVF and/or IUI treatments (including medications) for up to three cycles per household.

  Eligibility criteria (Government of Prince Edward Island):

  • Applicants must be residents of PEI with a valid PEI Health Card.

  • Proof of fertility diagnosis and treatment costs is required.

  • Treatments must be obtained outside of PEI, as services are not currently available in-province.

  Eligible services (Government of Prince Edward Island):

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

  • Medications related to treatment

• More Information: PEI Fertility Funding

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Major program expansion in March 2025.

• Coverage: One-time IVF subsidy increased to a maximum of $20,000 per applicant (previously $5,000 per cycle for up to three cycles). The province is also investing in the development of in-province IVF services to reduce the need for travel.

• Eligibility criteria (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador):

  • Applicants must be residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with a valid MCP number.

  • Proof of fertility diagnosis and treatment plan is required.

  Eligible services (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador):

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)

  • Medications associated with treatment

  • Travel and accommodation expenses may be considered on a case-by-case basis

• More Information: NL IVF Subsidy Program

Yukon

• New refundable tax credit introduced in May 2025.

• Coverage: Covers 40% of eligible fertility and surrogacy-related medical expenses, up to $10,000 per year, with no lifetime maximum. Includes coverage for travel related to accessing treatment.

  Eligibility criteria (Government of Yukon):

  • Applicants must be Yukon residents and file an income tax return in the territory.

  • Expenses must meet definitions under the federal Income Tax Act and be incurred after May 1, 2025.

  • Medical travel must be related to accessing treatment not available in-territory.

  Eligible services (Government of Yukon):

  • IVF and IUI

  • Egg extraction and sperm retrieval

  • Surrogacy-related medical procedures

  • Sperm, egg, or embryo storage and freezing

  • Medical travel associated with treatment

• More Information: Yukon Fertility Tax Credit

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

• Current Status: No public funding or coverage for fertility treatments is available in the territories as of 2025.

Summary Table

For More Information

For the most current and detailed program eligibility and application information, please consult your provincial or territorial health ministry website or contact your local fertility clinic. Note: This summary reflects the most recent public announcements and may be subject to change as new policies are implemented or updated. Always verify with official provincial sources for the latest details.