Politicians are being asked to agree new eligibility rules for fertility treatment that would help more Jersey couples struggling to start a family.

The extended criteria would see up to three cycles of IVF fully-funded for households with a gross annual income of less than £82,300.

Couples earning less than £200,000 between them could be eligible for two funded cycles, while all couples could be eligible for one funded cycle irrespective of their income.

At the moment, fully-funded treatment is only available to those with a combined household income of less than £40,795.

The States Assembly voted in May to replace that system after hearing that the threshold was so low, no one was benefiting from the help.

READ MORE: States vote to improve IVF funding

This new criteria will be introduced from the start of next year, if the States Assembly approves the annual funding of £620,000.

It will be discussed during the 2025 Government Plan debate, which is scheduled to take place in November. 

To qualify for treatment under the new proposals, couples must also be:

• in a 'stable relationship', and have lived together for 2+ years
• childless 
• Jersey residents for 12+ months
• infertile
• non-smokers
• drug-free 
• not voluntarily sterilised 
• able to meet the Welfare of the Child Assessment, provided by the IVF clinic.

The person looking to receive the artificial insemination must:

• be under 40 to be eligible for three rounds of IVF, or aged 40 - 42 and have undergone tests to show they are likely to respond to treatment to be eligible for one round of IVF
• be aged 26 or over
• have a BMI above 19 and below 30.

The person providing the sperm for the treatment must be:

• aged 54 or under

Same-sex female couples are eligible to apply for IVF if they meet the criteria. 

Single people do not qualify for the treatment under proposed law changes. 

Deputy Andy Howell, credit: States of Jersey

Deputy Andy Howell, Assistant Minister for Health and Community Services, said:

“We are pleased to be able to bring forward the proposed new criteria for funded IVF treatment which we hope will assist many more couples who are struggling to have a family. We thank all those who have helped shape these proposals.

“We are publishing the proposed  criteria now, ahead of the States Assembly confirming the necessary funding, because we know that couples who are experiencing difficulties with conceiving need time to plan.”

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who brought the May funding-change proposal to the States, and who has experience of IVF and is a governor of the Tiny Seeds charity, gave her reaction, calling it 'a big step in the right direction'.

As a result of my proposition to improve funding for IVF, @GovJersey has published its new criteria for those who will be eligible if funding proposed in the Budget is approved in Nov. The criteria is not perfect, but a big step in the right direction 👇🏻https://t.co/LqH1WqOgkS pic.twitter.com/d25MlhinxE

— Lucy Stephenson (@LucyStevoJSY) August 21, 2024

Chloe Fosse, another governor of Tiny Seeds which was set up in 2020 to supporting couples trying to conceive, said:

“While Tiny Seeds recognise that the criteria is still limiting with clear gaps, it does mean that many people will now be able to access between 1-3 fully funded cycles of IVF.

It also hopefully sets a precedent for improved access for even more people in the future - something the charity  will continue to campaign for. We thank our politicians for listening and recognising that change is so desperately needed and we feel positive that this is just the start for fair and equitable IVF funding in Jersey.”