Yukoners seeking fertility care like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy are now able to receive a subsidy for their travel and lodging.
The Yukon government announced the expansion of the medical travel subsidy on Oct. 17.
For the most part, fertility care is only available outside of the Yukon, so patients have to travel to other jurisdictions like British Columbia to receive treatment. Yukoners may be eligible to have airfare covered, as well as a subsidy to cover lodging, transportation and meals while out of territory. The expansion is part of the confidence-and-supply agreement (CASA) struck between the Yukon Liberals and NDP.
According to the announcement press release, medical travel for fertility and surrogacy treatment is available for both in and out-of-territory medical travel.
Shauna Demers is the director of insured health services with the Department of Health and Social Services. She told the News to be eligible for the subsidy, patients must have a valid Yukon health care card, and fit the criteria laid out by the Travel for Medical Treatment Act.
According to the Insured Health and Hearing Policy for out-of-territory travel, people insured through an act of Parliament (status First Nations, members of the Armed Forces, RCMP, Canada Post, Parks Canada, federal public service and Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board applicants) aren’t eligible for travel for medical treatment as defined in the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan Act; they are covered by their own medical travel benefits.
Demers said patients will have to apply for medical travel through their primary health-care provider. The application will be reviewed by clinical advisors.
If approved, the department provides the cost of round-trip airfare for both the patient and approved escort. Also, patients will be able to get a subsidy form, which they must get signed by the care provider they are travelling to see.
Upon return to the territory when the services have been received, the patient will be able to take the form in and be paid. The subsidy is $174 a day for the patient and $88 a day for an approved escort.
The subsidy only applies to medical travel undertaken after the regulation changes on Oct. 17.
Kate White, the leader of the Yukon NDP, said she was “deeply sorry” for those who accessed treatment since the CASA was signed. White said the decision to not make the changes retroactive was a “government decision.”
Also included in CASA was the commitment for a rebate for those seeking fertility care. The rebate would be for up to $8,000 per year for fertility treatment or surrogacy expenses, for a maximum of five years.
Currently, Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Quebec public health insurance offers some form of coverage for fertility assistance, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada web page. The Northwest Territories, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and the Yukon public health insurance do not.
When asked if she thinks the rebate will be brought into force before the scheduled territorial election in fall 2025, White said she hopes so.
“Anytime, you know, the Liberals delay or drag their feet on these commitments that are to benefit people, it's disappointing, because it is all about supporting Yukoners and the needs of Yukoners, and I would be sorely disappointed if we didn't see it sooner than later.”
Sandra Milliken moved to the Yukon from B.C., where she worked as a nurse in a fertility clinic. Both she and her partner have had their eggs frozen for future use.
Milliken said she had to pay $2,000 out of pocket for the medications used in fertility care. Her benefits covered the remaining $3,000 of the total cost. She said she also received a discount of $5,000 off of her $7,000 egg retrieval and freezing. Her partner’s benefits were able to cover her medications in full, but the $7,000 egg retrieval wasn’t covered.
Altogether, Milliken and her partner paid over $11,000 — a sum which Milliken acknowledged was on the “cheaper end" of fertility care costs.
Milliken estimated parents could pay up to $21,000 for one cycle of IVF, from egg retrieval to embryo transplant, with medication costs included. Genetic screening is an additional $5,000, and storage runs between $400 to $800 annually.
Milliken said the subsidy will help her and her partner to travel to the clinic where their eggs are when they decide to move forward in expanding their family.
Implantation of an embryo takes less time than an egg retrieval does, Milliken explained, but both flights and spending a week in out of territory can get expensive, she said.
Furthermore, medications are needed for whenever Milliken or her partner decides to go through with implantation, which may take several attempts to be successful, Milliken said.
The rebate would “absolutely” be helpful if it comes into force, Milliken said.
Demers said the Finance department would be able to share the status of the rebate. The finance department told the News it is “working towards meeting this commitment and will have more details to share in the next several weeks.”
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
