NSW government offers $2000 egg freezing rebate
Women in NSW freezing their eggs will be eligible for a $2000 rebate if the coalition government is returned to power.
The government will expand an existing $80 million fertility grant system by an additional $4 million to include egg freezing if it wins the March 25 election.
The move would take the number of places in the rebate scheme to 14,000.
Treasurer Matt Kean said just one cycle of egg freezing can cost up to $10,000, effectively ruling out the option for many women.
"This is all about giving women more choice and taking some of the stress away from undergoing fertility treatments," he said on Wednesday.
More than 2200 rebates had already been paid to women undergoing IVF treatments since applications opened on January 1.
Mr Kean said that meant many couples were "finally being able to make their dream of starting a family a reality".
To be eligible for the rebate, women must live in NSW and undergo the treatment from July.
Sydney hairdresser Chanelle De Nicola underwent egg freezing after discovering she had low ovarian reserves at the age of 34.
Having to undergo four rounds of egg freezing for the best chance of successful pregnancy left her with significant out-of-pocket expenses.
"Women do have to make financial sacrifices in order to go ahead with egg freezing, so any financial help will make a big difference," she said.
"It is not just women my age, I know younger women in similar situations to me who need to freeze their eggs, this announcement will definitely help them."
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said 1000 women in NSW had eggs frozen every year.
"NSW is already one of the most affordable places in the world to have fertility treatments thanks to our IVF rebates," she said.
"We hope these new egg freezing rebates set a precedent for further commonwealth investment in women's health and fertility treatments."