Gyeonggi Province Eliminates Age Criteria for Women in Infertility Treatment Support from June

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Starting June 1 (based on the decision notice issuance date), Gyeonggi Province has abolished the age-based differential support criteria for women in the 'Infertile Couple Treatment Expense Support Project.'

As a result, all criteria that had hindered infertility treatment support—including income, residency, treatment frequency, and age—have been eliminated or resolved, allowing more infertile couples to undergo treatment with peace of mind.

The 'Infertile Couple Treatment Expense Support Project' is a program that supports expenses for in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination procedures. Until now, due to health risks associated with pregnancy at advanced ages, different support amounts were provided based on age 45 (for women).

As a result, women aged 45 and older received up to 200,000 won less in support compared to women aged 44 and younger.

However, Gyeonggi Province determined that in the context of ultra-low birth rates, comprehensive support is necessary for infertile couples who wish to have children. It decided to apply the same support amount to women aged 45 and older as to women aged 44 and younger.

With this measure, infertile women residing in the province can receive equal amounts regardless of age (up to 1.1 million won for fresh embryos, up to 500,000 won for frozen embryos, and up to 300,000 won for artificial insemination).

Those seeking support can apply through the health center under their residential jurisdiction or online (Gov24), receive a decision notice, and submit it to an infertility treatment medical institution.

Previously, Gyeonggi Province eliminated the income criteria in July last year that supported only households with income at or below 180 percent of the median income. Then, starting January this year, residency criteria were also eliminated by changing the requirement from a minimum six-month residency in Gyeonggi Province to residency based on the application date. Third, beginning in February, the infertility treatment support limit was expanded from 21 times to 25 times.

Meanwhile, the province is implementing Gyeonggi Province's 'Love Eye Project' to establish population and low birth rate policies that residents can directly experience. Support policies for infertile couples, including the elimination of income and residency criteria, are being pursued as part of the 'Love Eye Project.' 'Love Eye' is a play on words expressing love for oneself (I) and babies, and is the branding for Gyeonggi Province's low birth rate policy.

Yu Young-chul, head of the Provincial Health and Wellness Department, stated, "The province has gradually expanded the 'Infertile Couple Treatment Expense Support Project' since last year to remove barriers to pregnancy and childbirth for infertile couples," adding, "For infertile couples with a clear will to have children, more active support is necessary, and we will continue to make efforts to relieve the burden on infertile families going forward."