The ART co-funding scheme covers in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT).

The government will co-fund the costs of a fresh ART cycle*  for a maximum of three cycles per patient.  The amount of co-funding varies, depending on the citizenship of the couple as shown in Table 1. All the standard procedures from ovarian stimulation to embryo transfer can be included in the co-funding. Initial consultations and investigations prior to a patient’s decision to start ART treatment are excluded from the co-funding.

Table 1

		Patient’s citizenship status
		Singapore Citizen	Permanent Resident	Foreigner
Spouse’s citizenship status	Singapore Citizen	50%, up to $3,000#	45%, up to $2,700#	25%, up to $1,500#
	Permanent Resident	45%, up to $2,700#	Not Applicable
	Foreigner	25%, up to $1,500#

* All the standard procedures from ovarian stimulation to embryo transfer can be included in the co-funding scheme. Initial consultations and investigations prior to a patient’s decision to start ART treatment are excluded from the scheme.

^#  Co-fund per treatment cycle.

No application is needed. You will have to fill up a declaration form provided by the hospital which will be used to check your eligibility for the co-funding scheme. Once the hospital has verified that you are eligible for the co-funding scheme, the hospital will incorporate it into your bill.

Yes, Medisave can be used for a co-funded cycle or for cycles which are not co-funded. You are able to use Medisave up to $6,000 for the first cycle, $5,000 for the second cycle and $4,000 for the third cycle, for which a claim is made.  For cycles that are co-funded, the use of Medisave will further reduce the amount that you need to pay out-of-pocket.

You can qualify for co-funding if the ART treatment is done at a public hospital from 17 August 2008, and if you meet all the following criteria:
a. Either you or your husband must be a Singapore Citizen at the start of the ART cycle;
b. You have no more than one living child with your husband. (For the definition of ‘living child’, please refer to question 8);
c. You are below 40 years of age at the start of the cycle;
d. You have been assessed by your doctor to have met the clinical requirements for ART;
e. Your treatment is a fresh cycle;
f. You have no more than two embryos transferred during the cycle; and
g. You have not received three co-funded cycles in the past.

This is because medical evidence shows that the chance of conception is significantly higher for a woman who undergoes ART treatment when she is young.

Medical evidence shows that the chance of conception is significantly higher for a woman who undergoes ART treatment when she is young.The ART co-funding was introduced in August 2008 to encourage couples with difficulty conceiving to seek treatment early and hence focuses on those who start their fresh cycle before 40 years old.   You will not be eligible for ART co-funding for fresh cycles started at 40 years old and above, even if you had received co-funding for earlier cycles.  You may wish to consider using Medisave to defray the out-of-pocket costs. The Medisave withdrawal limit for assisted conception procedures (including IVF), is $6,000, $5,000 and $4,000 for the first three cycles respectively and does not depend on your age.

This is because frozen cycles are much more affordable than fresh cycles.  Medisave can be used for either type of cycles.

Yes, you can be considered for co-funding if you do not have more than one living child in your current marriage.  You must also meet the other criteria in order to qualify for the co-funding scheme (please refer to Question 1).  

For the purpose of the ART co-funding scheme, ‘living child’ is defined as a biological child produced in the current marriage.  Step-children, legally adopted children in the current marriage, and biological children in the current marriage given up for adoption are excluded.

No. Similar to general healthcare subsidies, the ART co-funding scheme only applies for such treatments done at the public hospitals.  Patients can still use Medisave under Medisave Maternity Package for deliveries at private hospitals. 

This is because ART treatments like IVF (with or without ICSI) and GIFT are generally more costly than ACPs such as IUI.  Medisave can be used for both the ART treatments and other ACPs.