Shanghai is set to expand its healthcare coverage by including twelve assisted reproductive medical services in its health insurance plan, a strategic move aimed at encouraging a rise in the Chinese mainland’s birth rate.
Effective from June 1, expenses related to procedures such as egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, artificial insemination, embryo culture, and embryo transfer will be covered under the city’s healthcare insurance. This initiative was announced in a circular jointly issued by Shanghai’s Healthcare Security Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and Health Commission.
Currently, seventeen out of the twenty medical institutions in Shanghai that provide assisted reproductive services have adopted this extended healthcare coverage. The inclusion of these twelve items encompasses the majority of assisted reproductive technologies, significantly alleviating both the economic and psychological burdens on patients and their families.
“This policy will greatly reduce the financial stress for couples seeking fertility treatments,” said Zhang Ting, a doctor in the reproductive medicine department at Renji Hospital. “For example, healthcare insurance will cover 70 percent of the egg retrieval cost, which is about 2,500 yuan (approximately $352) per procedure. Each patient is eligible for coverage for up to three procedures at a single medical institution.”
The move is expected to make assisted reproductive technologies more accessible to a broader segment of the population, potentially contributing to an increase in birth rates. By easing the financial barriers associated with these medical services, Shanghai is taking proactive steps to address demographic challenges.
Reference(s):
Shanghai healthcare to cover costs of assisted reproductive services
cgtn.com
