Fertility Associates undertakes both private and publicly funded treatment. There are two stages of public funding:
Recent changes to the Public Funding Criteria -Dated 24 Jan 2019 can be found here.
Publicly funded consultation
You need to meet a number of criteria to receive a referral for a publicly funded consultation with a fertility specialist. Some of these criteria are dependent on your region’s District Health Board. Please select your region below to see the relevant criteria and referral process for you to access a publicly funded consultation.
Good to know:
- You can also have a privately funded consultation to access publicly funded treatment.
Select for details:
-
Auckland(Auckland, Waitemata, Counties Manukau and Northland)
To access Publicly funded treatment in the Auckland /Northland Region
you will need to have your eligibility assessed by a fertility specialist.
There are two ways of doing this. You can apply for a publicly funded consultation,
or you can book a privately funded first consultation.-
1.Publicly funded consultation:
You will need to make an appointment to see your GP who will conduct a number of tests and can refer you to the Northern Region Fertility Service (NRFS) – be sure to ask for a publicly funded referral (this will ensure your assessment for eligibility is publicly funded).
The NRFS will then allocate you to an Auckland fertility clinic to see a fertility specialist. The fertility specialist will investigate the possible causes of your infertility, arrange any necessary tests, tell you about treatment options, and, if you meet the access criteria, refer you back to the Northern Region Fertility Service (NRFS) who will enrol you for publicly funded treatment. You will be referred back to the same public-funded clinic for your treatment.
Northland: If you live in Northland your GP may initially refer you to your local secondary service (hospital) for an initial assessment and for tests to be completed.
-
2. Private (self) funded:
Make an appointment with a fertility specialist yourself (or ask you GP to give you a private referral) – you will need to pay the cost of consultation with the fertility specialist yourself. The fertility specialist will investigate the possible causes of your infertility, arrange any extra tests, tell you about treatment options, and, if you meet the access criteria, refer you to the Northern Region Fertility Service (NRFS) who will enrol you for publicly funded treatment.
The NRFS will allocate you to one of three publicly funded clinics in Auckland for your treatment. It may not be the clinic where you had your private appointment. You can stay at your chosen clinic and have private (self) funded treatment if you choose to.
Eligibility Criteria for a publicly funded consultation:
- Female must be 39 years of younger at the time of referral.
- New Zealand resident(s) or work permit for at least two years (this applies to both couples, not just the woman). Proof of residency/citizenship/work visa must be provided before eligibility for treatment can be confirmed.
And:
- Not pregnant after one year of trying to get pregnant, OR
- a known male or female factor such as endometriosis, blocked tubes, and anovulation or a very low sperm count, OR
- have a genetic condition that can be treated with preimplantation genetic diagnosis, OR
- requires fertility preservation before undergoing medical treatment that is likely to compromise fertility (eg before Chemotherapy).
Exclusion Criteria
The following criteria excludes women from being eligible for a publicly funded consultation:- Man or male partner aged 55yrs or older
- Woman BMI >35
- Man or male partner BMI >40
The following criteria excludes women from being eligible for publicly funded treatment:- BMI>32
- Man or male partner BMI >40
- Woman a smoker
- Man or male partner a smoker
- Illicit drug or alcohol abuse in the past 12 months
- Have two or more children to the relationship or two or more children to any relationship living at home at least half of the time.
Good to know:
- At your publicly funded consultation you will be scored for publicly funded treatment using the fertility Clinical Priority Assessment Criteria (CPAC) system that gives you a score out of a 100.
- You can have a private consultation to access public treatment. This is useful for those who want to be assessed sooner than the public wait time of 3-4 months.
- You can also access privately funded treatment while on the waiting list for publicly funded treatment. You would only lose your place on the waiting list if you achieve a successful pregnancy.
-
-
Hamilton/Midland region(Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki)
Eligibility for a publicly funded consultation in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Taranaki region:
- Woman's age 39 years or younger, and
- Not pregnant after 12 months of trying.
- Or a known male or female diagnosed factor (very low sperm count, endometriosis, blocked tubes, anovulation)
- Or have a genetic condition that can be treated with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis,
- Or have an indication for fertility preservation.
- Both partners must be eligible to receive health services in NZ. More info can be found here.
Good to know:
- At your publicly funded consultation you will be scored for publicly funded treatment using the fertility Clinical Priority Assessment Criteria (CPAC) system that gives you a score out of a 100.
- You can have a private consultation to access public treatment. This is useful for those who want to be assessed sooner than the public wait time of 3-4 months.
- You can also access privately funded treatment while on the waiting list for publicly funded treatment. You would only lose your place on the waiting list if you achieve a successful pregnancy.
-
Wellington region(Tairawhiti, Hawkes Bay, Whanganui, Mid Central, Wairarapa, Wellington, Capital Coast and Lower Hutt)
Your GP will need to refer you directly to Fertility Associates Wellington and specifically ask for a public consultation; otherwise you will be treated privately.
To be eligible for a publicly funded consultation in the Tairawhiti,
Hawkes Bay, Whanganui, Mid Central, Wairarapa, Wellington, Capital Coast and Hutt region:- Both partners must have NZ residency, citizenship or a work visa showing at least 2 years.
Additionally:
- If you are 35 years or younger, you also need to have been trying to get pregnant for at least 18 months or for women over 35 years you must have been trying for 12 months,
- Or have a severe male or female factor, such as no or very poor quality sperm or failure to ovulate,
- Or have a genetic condition that can be treated with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis,
- Or have an indication for fertility preservation.
Good to know:
- At your publicly funded consultation you will be scored for publicly funded treatment using the fertility Clinical Priority Assessment Criteria (CPAC) system that gives you a score out of a 100.
- You can have a private consultation to access public treatment. This is useful for those who want to be assessed sooner than the public wait time of 3-4 months.
- You can also access privately funded treatment while on the waiting list for publicly funded treatment. You would only lose your place on the waiting list if you achieve a successful pregnancy.
-
South Island region
Your GP will need to refer you directly to Fertility Associates Christchurch and specifically ask for a public consultation; otherwise you will be treated privately.
To be eligible for a publicly funded consultation in the South Island:
- Both partners must have NZ residency, citizenship or a work visa showing at least 2 years.
- Be 39 years of age or younger at the time of referral
- Not have two or more children under the age of 12 living at home.
- Have a BMI no greater than 32.
Additionally:
- You and your partner also need to have been trying to get pregnant for at least 12 months,
- Or have a severe male or female factor, such as no or very poor quality sperm or failure to ovulate.
- Or have a genetic condition that can be treated with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis,
- Or have an indication for fertility preservation.
Good to know:
- At your publicly funded consultation you will be scored for publicly funded treatment using the fertility Clinical Priority Assessment Criteria (CPAC) system that gives you a score out of a 100.
- You can have a private consultation to access public treatment. This is useful for those who want to be assessed sooner than the public wait time of 3-4 months.
- You can also access privately funded treatment while on the waiting list for publicly funded treatment. You would only lose your place on the waiting list if you achieve a successful pregnancy.
Publicly funded treatment
- Publicly funded fertility treatment covers almost all types of treatments.
- Eligibility is calculated using a scoring system (out of 100) called the fertility Clinical Priority Assessment Criteria (CPAC).
- Your fertility specialist will calculate your CPAC score, and if you gain 65 points, on the CPAC, you will be eligible for publicly funded fertility treatment.
The scoring system takes into account:
- Your chance of pregnancy with and without treatment, considering:
- how long you have been trying to get pregnant,
- your medical history including: a diagnosis of the following sperm or tubal factors: endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and whether you have had a tubal ligation or vasectomy.
- Whether you have other children living at home.
- The criteria includes that the Women must be
- aged 39 years or younger
- and have a BMI less than 32
Good to know:
- Many patients do not score 65 at their first consultation for public funding, however after a longer period of time can gain additional points. This is due to the duration of infertility being an important predictor towards the chance of having a child.
Below are some possible scenarios outlining cases that would be calculated to achieve Public Funding.
- Scenario 1. Female/Male couple:
- Severe infertility
- No children
- Trying for 1 year or more
- Scenario 2. Female/Male couple:
- Unexplained infertility
- Who have been trying for 5 years
- Scenario 3. Female/Female couple:
- Where the woman wanting to become pregnant has a biological cause of infertility
- And has been trying for at least a year
- Scenario 4. Single woman:
- Whose investigations are normal
- Has not become pregnant after 12 cycles of privately-funded donor insemination
About Publicly Funded Treatment:
- What is covered: If you are receiving publicly funded treatment, there will be no charge for a consultation that is part of the treatment cycle. Public treatment is fully funded, as are the drugs used in the treatment cycles (apart from rare exceptions about which you would be notified). If you are not sure what is and isn’t funded, please ask the clinic staff.
- Residency: To be eligible, both partners need to be New Zealand residents or meet other residency requirements to access public health services. We may need to see some evidence of residency, such as a birth certificate or passport.
Treatment selection: Sometimes you have a choice of treatments but usually it is decided by the characteristics of your infertility. For instance, if your ovarian reserve is very low, you will be offered donor egg treatment instead of IVF using your own eggs since donor eggs gives you a better chance of pregnancy.
The treatment package offered includes:
- IVF: One cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) including if required:
- Embryo replacement (up to a live birth)
- Storage of embryos created in the IVF cycle for 18 months
- Sperm microinjection (ICSI)
- Surgical sperm retrieval
- Donor eggs
- Donor sperm
- A gestational surrogate
If this treatment package results with a live birth, a reassessment of eligibility will be required for the replacement of any remaining frozen embryos.
- Or IUI:
- Up to 4 cycles of intrauterine insemination using male partner's sperm or donated sperm.
If this treatment results with a live birth, a reassessment of eligibility will be required for further intrauterine inseminations within this package of 4 cycle
What you need to know
- Number of cycles: Public funding covers up to ‘two packages of treatment’.
- A cycle is considered complete: A cycle is considered complete if there is an embryo to transfer in IVF or insemination takes place in IUI. If the treatment cycle is stopped before this stage, we may offer a second attempt as part of the same package. For PGD, a cycle is considered complete if there is an embryo suitable for testing.
- Second package: If you do not become pregnant from your first package, you may be eligible for a second package of treatment. You will still need to score 65 points or more and meet the usual criteria when your fertility specialist re-scores you after completing your first package.
- If you get pregnant while you wait: If you have a child from private treatment or have conceived naturally while waiting for your publicly funded treatment, your score will change. If you want to try for another child later, you will need to see your fertility specialist again to re-assess your eligibility for publicly funded treatment. You will get fewer points if you already have a child, but many people in this situation still score more than 65 points.
- Auckland Northland only: Do you have embryos in storage? This applies for you.
- If you have frozen embryos stored in New Zealand from a previous private IVF cycle and then become eligible for publicly funded treatment, these embryos must be used in a publicly funded cycle before a further publicly funded IVF cycle can be initiated within New Zealand.
- Timing: The wait for public treatment once you are enrolled varies across the country, and presently ranges from 6 to 18 months. We will write to confirm your enrolment and tell you when treatment is likely to be offered. If you change address you must tell us. We will contact you 2-3 months before IVF treatment is scheduled to get things started.
- When treatment begins: You must still meet all the eligibility criteria when treatment begins, including not smoking and your BMI being in the 18-32 range. Even if you meet all the criteria, public treatment can be withdrawn if it is unlikely to be successful, for instance if you do not respond well to the IVF medications.
- Total funding: Unlike in many other countries, public treatment is totally free – there is no partial payment. However, you do need to pay for your own legal expenses if you are using surrogacy or donor embryo and for any ethics application associated with your treatment.
- Storage fees: If you complete an IVF cycle and have spare embryos frozen, you’ll need to pay storage fees after the first 18 months.
- Guidelines: While the provision of public treatment is usually straightforward, we have guidelines for the various scenarios that occasionally arise. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.