Does Medicare Cover IVF in Australia? Full 2026 Guide
Yes. Medicare rebates apply to egg collection, embryo transfer, specialist consultations, monitoring and blood tests in an IVF cycle, each at the benefit MBS Online publishes for its item. There is no limit on the number of funded cycles. The Extended Medicare Safety Net adds further benefits once a family's out-of-pocket costs pass A$2,699.10 in a calendar year (A$861.20 concessional), which can reduce the cost of later cycles.
Quick answer
Updated May 2026IVF costs in Australia are best compared as out-of-pocket costs after Medicare rebates, plus medication, anaesthetist, storage and any add-ons. The lower-cost clinic is not always the lowest total cost over multiple cycles.
- Compare clinic cycle fee, Medicare rebate and likely gap cost.
- Add PBS medication costs and optional services such as ICSI or PGT-A.
- Check whether a public IVF or access-program route is available in your state.
AU comparison next step
Compare the full IVF cost, not just the advertised cycle price
- Medication, scans, ICSI, embryo freezing and storage may be extra.
- Some clinics advertise lower base prices but higher add-ons.
- Success-rate context matters alongside price.
Sources and updates
How this page is sourced
Sources
- Published clinic price pages
- RTAC clinic information
- Medicare and PBS public information
- TreatCompare compiled fertility pricing dataset
Methodology: We compare advertised IVF cycle fees, rebate information and commonly charged add-ons where available. Out-of-pocket costs can vary by patient, protocol, Medicare Safety Net timing and clinic inclusions.
Caveat: This page is for cost comparison and planning. It is not medical advice or fertility treatment advice.
Healthcare data note
Sources, review and limits
Main sources
- Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS Online) item descriptions
- Services Australia Medicare Safety Net threshold publications
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) IVF medication schedule
- Australian IVF clinics’ own published fee schedules
Methodology: This article describes Medicare's coverage of IVF in Australia using MBS item descriptions, Safety Net thresholds and PBS medicine subsidies. It does not restate MBS fees or benefits: they are indexed, so each item links to MBS Online for the current amount. Clinic out-of-pocket figures come only from clinics' own fee schedules. Total patient out-of-pocket cost depends on the clinic's bill, the patient's progress against the Safety Net threshold and whether they have private health insurance.
Cost FAQs
How much does IVF cost in Australia?
IVF cost depends on clinic fees, Medicare rebates, medication, anaesthetist fees, storage and add-ons. Compare out-of-pocket cost after rebates, not only the advertised cycle price.
What is usually not included in an IVF headline price?
Medication, ICSI, embryo freezing, storage, anaesthetist fees and extra scans may be separate. Ask for a written estimate that lists inclusions and likely add-ons.
Are lower-cost IVF clinics always lower-cost overall?
Not always. A lower base cycle fee can still lead to a higher total if medication, add-ons or repeat cycles cost more than expected.
Does Medicare reduce IVF costs in Australia?
Medicare rebates can reduce eligible IVF service costs, and PBS subsidies can reduce many medication costs. The final gap depends on clinic billing and your Safety Net position.
According to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), Medicare rebates apply to most medical services in an IVF cycle in Australia, including specialist consultations, ultrasound monitoring, egg collection, embryo transfer, anaesthesia and pathology; each item's current benefit is published on MBS Online.
According to Services Australia, the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold is A$2,699.10 in annual out-of-pocket costs (A$861.20 concessional); after the threshold, Medicare pays 80% of further out-of-pocket costs on eligible out-of-hospital services, subject to item benefit caps.
According to TreatCompare's read of Australian IVF clinics' own fee schedules (read 3 October 2026), 41 of 97 accredited Australian IVF clinics publish a readable fee schedule. 41 of 97 accredited Australian IVF clinics publish a readable fee schedule, but the IVF cycle figures they publish do not yet support a comparable out-of-pocket range, so no range is given here.
According to MBS rules, there is no limit on the number of Medicare-funded IVF cycles a patient may access; Medicare does not cover IVF medications (separately subsidised under the PBS), elective egg freezing without medical indication, embryo storage, PGT-A, or donor egg/sperm fees.
Sources: Medicare Benefits Schedule, Services Australia, PBS. Clinic fee schedules read 3 October 2026.
Use this guide
Estimate your out-of-pocket IVF cost
Medicare rebates are only one part of the bill. Compare clinic fees, PBS medication costs and Safety Net thresholds before choosing a clinic.
What Medicare covers
Medicare provides rebates for medical services performed during an IVF cycle. The rebate is calculated as a percentage of the MBS (Medicare Benefits Schedule) fee, typically 85% for out-of-hospital services and 75% for in-hospital services. The “gap” is the difference between what your doctor charges and the Medicare rebate.
IVF-related Medicare services
| Service | MBS item | Current fee and benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Fertility specialist consultation | 104 | MBS Online, item 104 ↗ |
| IVF cycle (assisted reproductive services) | 13200 | MBS Online, item 13200 ↗ |
| Full blood count (FBC) | 65070 | MBS Online, item 65070 ↗ |
| Thyroid function test | 66716 | MBS Online, item 66716 ↗ |
| Hormone panel (female) | 66695 | MBS Online, item 66695 ↗ |
Gap = out-of-pocket cost after the Medicare rebate. What a clinic charges is set by the clinic, so the gap differs between clinics and is not stated here. 41 of 97 accredited Australian IVF clinics publish a readable fee schedule, but the IVF cycle figures they publish do not yet support a comparable out-of-pocket range, so no range is given here. IVF cost in Australia, clinic by clinic.
Key point: Medicare rebates are automatic. Your fertility clinic submits claims on your behalf in most cases. There is no limit on the number of IVF cycles eligible for Medicare rebates. Each cycle attracts the same rebates regardless of how many cycles you have done.
What Medicare does NOT cover
Separately funded
- ●Medications — IVF drugs are subsidised through the PBS, not Medicare. General copay A$25/script, concession A$7.70/script.
- ●Hospital fees — If your procedure is done as a day patient in a private hospital, the hospital charges separately. Private health insurance can cover this.
Not covered at all
- ●Counselling — fertility counselling is not MBS-rebatable in most cases
- ●Embryo/egg storage — storage fees are fully out-of-pocket
- ●PGT-A genetic testing — no Medicare rebate
- ●Donor costs — donor eggs, donor sperm, and donor embryo fees
- ●Elective egg freezing — no Medicare rebate when there is no medical indication
- ●Travel/accommodation — not covered even if you travel interstate for treatment
Medicare Safety Net
The Medicare Safety Net is the most important cost-reduction mechanism for IVF patients doing multiple cycles. Once your annual out-of-pocket costs (the gap between what your doctors charge and the MBS schedule fee) exceed the threshold, Medicare pays a higher percentage of your remaining gap costs.
How the Extended Medicare Safety Net works
General threshold
A$2,699.10 per calendar year. Once your family's out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services pass this amount, Medicare pays 80% of further out-of-pocket costs on eligible services for the rest of the calendar year, up to any benefit cap set for the item.
Concessional threshold
For concession card holders and families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A, the threshold is lower at A$861.20. After this, the same 80% applies.
Several assisted reproductive MBS items carry a cap on the extra Safety Net benefit, listed with the item on MBS Online, so the 80% does not apply without limit to an IVF bill. Services Australia publishes the thresholds each year; your progress towards them is shown in your Medicare online account.
How to claim Medicare for IVF
Your clinic submits the claim
Most IVF clinics process Medicare claims on your behalf electronically. After each service (consultation, egg collection, embryo transfer), the clinic submits the claim with the relevant MBS item number.
Auto-rebate to your bank account
If you have registered your bank account with Medicare, rebates are deposited automatically within 1–2 business days. Some clinics can also do “in-clinic claiming” where the rebate is applied on the spot, reducing your upfront payment.
Check your rebates on MyGov
Log into your myGov account linked to Medicare to view all claims, rebates paid, and your Safety Net progress. You can also download Medicare statements for tax or insurance purposes. The Medicare app also shows your claims history and Safety Net balance.
Register your family for the Safety Net
Register your family group with Medicare (online, by phone, or at a Service Australia office) so that all family members' gap fees count towards the Safety Net threshold. This is essential for reaching the A$2,699.10 threshold faster.
Private health insurance + Medicare
Private health insurance does not replace Medicare for IVF — the two work together. Medicare provides rebates for the medical services (specialist fees, procedures). Hospital-level private cover reduces the hospital component (bed, theatre, nursing, anaesthetist gap).
What private cover helps with
- Hospital accommodation (day procedure fees)
- Theatre fees
- Anaesthetist gap reduction
Important caveats
- 12-month waiting period for pregnancy/IVF claims
- Must have hospital cover (not just extras)
- Does NOT cover the specialist's gap fee
- Does NOT cover medications, storage, or PGT-A
Tip: If you are planning IVF in the next 12+ months, check the waiting period on any hospital cover now. Compare policies that specifically include “assisted reproduction” or “IVF” in their hospital cover. Not all hospital policies cover IVF — check the product information statement carefully.
Public IVF (free but limited)
A small number of public hospitals in Australia offer fully funded IVF, where you pay nothing (or only a small medication gap). This is the lower-cost option but comes with significant trade-offs:
Wait times
6–24 months depending on state and hospital
Limited states
Best access in NSW and VIC. Limited in QLD/SA. None in TAS, ACT, or NT.
Eligibility
Medicare card, medical indication, age limits (typically under 42), BMI requirements
Public IVF is a viable option if you can wait, live in a state with access, and meet the eligibility criteria. However, most Australian IVF patients use private clinics with Medicare rebates due to shorter wait times and greater choice of specialist and clinic. See our lower-cost IVF guide for the lower-cost private options.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover IVF in Australia?
Yes. Medicare provides rebates for most IVF procedures including fertility specialist consultations, ultrasound monitoring, egg collection, embryo transfer, anaesthesia, and blood tests. The rebate for each service is set by its MBS item and published on MBS Online; the total depends on which services your cycle uses. There is no limit on the number of Medicare-funded IVF cycles.
How much does Medicare pay back for IVF?
Medicare rebates vary by service, and the current benefit for each MBS item is published on MBS Online. The cycle itself, consultations, ultrasounds and blood tests each attract their own rebate. Once your family's out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital services pass the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold (A$2,699.10 general, A$861.20 concessional, per Services Australia), Medicare pays 80% of further out-of-pocket costs on eligible services, up to any benefit cap set for the item; several assisted reproductive items have one.
What is the Medicare Safety Net for IVF?
The Extended Medicare Safety Net provides additional benefits once your family's out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services pass a threshold in a calendar year: A$2,699.10 in general, A$861.20 for concession card holders and families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A (Services Australia figures). After that, Medicare pays 80% of further out-of-pocket costs on eligible services, up to any benefit cap set for the item; several assisted reproductive items have a cap, listed with the item on MBS Online. For patients doing more than one cycle in a year, this can reduce the cost of later cycles.
Do I need private health insurance for IVF?
No, private health insurance is not required for IVF. Medicare covers the medical rebates regardless of whether you have private cover. Hospital-level private health insurance that includes assisted reproduction can reduce the hospital component (bed, theatre, anaesthetist gap); how much depends on the policy and the hospital. Most policies require a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy/IVF-related claims.
Is IVF covered by Medicare?
Yes. Medicare rebates apply to most of the medical services that make up an IVF cycle — specialist consultations, ultrasound monitoring, egg collection, embryo transfer, anaesthesia and blood tests — each at the benefit MBS Online publishes for its item. The rebate is paid regardless of whether you hold private health insurance, and there is no cap on the number of cycles claimed.
Is there a Medicare age limit for IVF?
Medicare does not set an age limit on IVF rebates, and there is no cap on the number of cycles. Eligibility rests on there being a medical indication for treatment. Individual clinics do set their own upper age limits, and those vary between clinics — check the limit with the clinic directly rather than assuming a national rule.
Does Medicare cover egg freezing?
Only where there is a medical indication — for example egg freezing before cancer treatment that risks fertility. Elective (social) egg freezing attracts no Medicare rebate, so the full cost is out of pocket, and storage fees are not covered in either case.
What IVF costs does Medicare NOT cover?
Medicare does not cover: IVF medications (these are separately subsidised through the PBS), counselling fees, embryo/egg storage fees, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A), donor egg or sperm costs, surrogacy-related expenses, accommodation or travel costs, and elective egg freezing (no medical indication). Some of these have separate PBS or private cover options.
Related guides
Sources & further reading
- Medicare Benefits Schedule Online — MBS item numbers, schedule fees, and rebate amounts for IVF services
- Medicare Safety Net — Services Australia — Extended Medicare Safety Net thresholds and how additional benefits are calculated
- PBS Schedule — Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — PBS-subsidised IVF medication copayment rates
- RTAC Code of Practice — Accreditation requirements for Australian IVF clinics
Prescription treatments require a valid Australian prescription from an AHPRA-registered practitioner. This site does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any treatment.