Call to end means-testing of IVF treatment

Deputy Lucy Stephenson wants to stop means-testing people for IVF treatment in Jersey

A Jersey politician has called for an end to means-testing for people seeking IVF treatment to make it more accessible.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson put forward a proposition to improve funding of IVF treatment for islanders by removing the means-tested model.

She said the current cut off point of £40,795 for couples was too low for people to benefit from state funding.

The Government of Jersey said ministers were due to discuss the proposition.

In her proposition, Ms Stephenson said the government paid medication costs for up to three cycles for couples aged under 42, with about £1,000 given per cycle.

Means-tested funding is then available to cover the remaining full cost of treatment for couples earning up to £40,795.

Ms Stephenson, who has lived experience with IVF and is a founding governor of Jersey fertility support charity Tiny Seeds, said "the eligibility criteria is so low that there is no evidence that anyone has ever qualified for it".

She estimated the average cost of a full cycle of IVF was between £4,800 and £6,600.

In her proposition, she said "funding remains a major barrier" to IVF treatment in Jersey and the "cost of living crisis is making it worse".

Evidence collected by Tiny Seeds showed some islanders requiring IVF had put themselves into debt others have had to leave the island to access treatment, the report said.

Her proposition calls for any new funding model to reflect National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidance and to ensure that such funding is included within the Proposed Government Plan 2025-28.