Fertility Funding in Canada: IVF Grants, Financial Support, & Resources

Fertility Grants Canada: IVF Funding & Financial Help

Fertility treatment is expensive. IVF, medications, embryo storage, and other services can add up quickly. And if your family-building plan involves third-party reproduction, you will need to budget for counselling, screening, legal agreements, agency fees, donor or surrogate reimbursements, travel, and parentage work after birth.

The good news is that financial help may be available. Depending on where you live and your circumstances, you may qualify for provincial funding, a fertility grant, workplace benefits, insurance coverage, or tax relief.

This blog provides an overview of the fertility funding and financial assistance resources you may wish to explore before beginning fertility treatment.

Important: Funding programs, eligibility requirements, and tax rules change frequently. Confirm current details with the relevant program, your fertility clinic, and a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions.

How Much Does Fertility Treatment Cost in Canada?

There is no single price for fertility treatment in Canada. Your total cost will depend on your diagnosis, treatment plan, province, fertility clinic, and whether you require donor conception or surrogacy.

Your budget may need to include:

• consultations and diagnostic testing
• cycle monitoring
• intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• in vitro fertilization (IVF)
• fertility medications
• intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
• embryo genetic testing
• egg, sperm, or embryo freezing
• storage fees
• donor sperm or donor eggs
• medical and psychological screening
• counselling
• travel and accommodation
• legal agreements
• donor or surrogate expense reimbursements
• insurance
• embryo transfers and additional treatment cycles
• legal work required after a child is born through surrogacy
• Some of these expenses may be publicly funded, reimbursed through an employee benefit plan, or eligible for a tax credit. Others will remain out-of-pocket.
• Before treatment begins, ask your clinic for a written estimate that separates:
• medical procedures
• medications
• laboratory and genetic testing
• storage
• donor-related costs
• services that are not included in the quoted cycle price

This will make it easier to compare funding, insurance, and financing options accurately.

Provincial Fertility Funding Programs

Canada does not have one universal IVF funding program. Fertility coverage is determined primarily by each province or territory, so access varies significantly across the country.

Some jurisdictions fund certain fertility procedures directly. Others offer refundable tax credits or reimbursement programs. Eligibility may depend on factors such as age, residency, income, medical recommendations, previous publicly funded treatment, and whether the clinic participates in the program.

The federal government maintains a useful province-by-province overview of fertility support and resources.

IVF Funding in Ontario

The Ontario Fertility Program funds eligible fertility services through participating clinics. Funded services may include certain fertility preservation services, intrauterine insemination, and one IVF cycle per eligible patient.

Funding does not necessarily cover every expense. Fertility medications, genetic testing, embryo storage, and other additional services may remain the patient’s responsibility. Clinics also manage their own waitlists and funded-cycle capacity.

Ontario has announced a significant expansion of its fertility program for 2025–2027, intended to increase the number of publicly funded IVF cycles and participating clinics. Patients should ask their clinic about current availability, eligibility, and wait times.

Learn more through the Ontario Fertility Program.

Ontario residents may also qualify for the Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit for eligible expenses paid on or after January 1, 2025. The refundable credit is calculated as 25% of up to $20,000 in eligible annual expenses, providing a maximum credit of $5,000 per year.

Review the current Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit rules before claiming.

IVF Funding in British Columbia

British Columbia launched a publicly funded IVF program in July 2025. For the 2026–2027 program year, eligible residents may receive one-time, income-tested funding.

The amount available depends on the intended parent or parents’ combined pre-tax income. Current funding ranges from $4,750 to $19,000, with a combined income limit of $250,000. The person undergoing the embryo transfer must be 41 or younger, subject to limited exceptions involving previously retrieved or donor eggs.

Funding is limited and applications are submitted through participating B.C. fertility clinics. The program can include eligible IVF services involving donor conception or a gestational surrogate, but donor purchases, screening, counselling, legal fees, and many other third-party reproduction costs are excluded.

Review the current B.C. publicly funded IVF program requirements with your clinic before beginning treatment.

Medically Assisted Reproduction in Quebec

Quebec’s medically assisted reproduction program covers certain fertility services for eligible patients through the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec, subject to program conditions.

Coverage may include a publicly insured IVF cycle and related services, but eligibility rules and the precise services included should be confirmed before treatment begins.

Information is available through Quebec’s medically assisted reproduction program.

Fertility Tax Credits in Other Provinces and Territories

Several jurisdictions provide tax-based assistance instead of, or in addition to, directly funded fertility treatment.

Examples include:

Manitoba: A refundable Fertility Treatment Tax Credit for qualifying treatment fees, prescription drugs, and certain donor- and surrogacy-related medical expenses. See Manitoba’s personal tax credit information.

Saskatchewan: A refundable credit equal to 50% of eligible expenses incurred in Saskatchewan, with a maximum lifetime benefit of $10,000. See the Saskatchewan Fertility Treatment Tax Credit.

Yukon: A refundable fertility and surrogacy tax credit may provide 40% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum credit of $10,000.

Because programs can change from one budget year to the next, verify the rules that apply during the year in which you incur the expense.

Fertility Grants in Canada

Canadian charitable organizations may provide grants to help individuals and families manage the cost of fertility treatment.

Grants are limited and competitive. Each organization establishes its own application periods, eligibility requirements, and permitted uses.

Fertility Friends Foundation

The Fertility Friends Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that provides grants to eligible individuals and families pursuing assisted reproduction.

Depending on the grant program, funding may support treatment involving:

• IVF
• egg or sperm donation
• embryo donation
• gestational surrogacy
• other eligible fertility services

Applicants and their partner, if applicable, must generally reside in Canada and be patients of a Canadian fertility clinic. Applications are reviewed by medical and financial committees, and grant funds are paid directly to the recipient’s fertility clinic.

Grants generally apply to upcoming treatment and cannot reimburse expenses already incurred. Funding may also be unavailable for treatment that is fully or partially covered by a government program.

Application periods and eligibility requirements change, so review the current Fertility Friends Foundation grant information before applying.

The Modern Miracle Foundation

The Modern Miracle Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that provides grants to help eligible individuals and families afford IVF treatment.

Its Canada-wide grant can be used at fertility clinics across the country to offset the cost of one IVF treatment cycle. Eligible costs may include egg retrieval and fresh or frozen embryo transfers.

The grant does not generally cover:

• fertility medications
• storage fees
• advanced testing
• donor sperm or egg fees
• surrogacy-related expenses
• treatment that began before the application was approved

Modern Miracle also offers a separate grant program in partnership with Pollin Fertility in Toronto. That program has its own eligibility criteria and funding structure.

Applicants are assessed based on considerations that include financial need and medical prognosis. Grants are paid directly to the fertility clinic and must generally be used within six months of approval.

Visit the Modern Miracle Foundation grant page for current application dates, grant amounts, and eligibility requirements.

Tips for Applying for a Fertility Grant

Grant applications may require medical and financial documentation.

Before an application period opens, consider gathering:

• a treatment plan and written cost estimate from your clinic
• a medical evaluation or letter from your fertility specialist
• proof of Canadian residency or citizenship, where required
• household income documentation
• information about insurance or government funding
• a realistic timeline for beginning treatment

Do not begin treatment until you understand the grant’s rules. Many programs will not reimburse expenses incurred before approval.

Disclosure: Michelle Flowerday, founder of Flowerday Fertility Law, serves on the board of Fertility Friends Foundation. All applications are anonymized and readers are encouraged to explore all available funding organizations and apply directly to the organization of their choice.

Employer Benefits & Insurance Coverage

Workplace fertility benefits are becoming more common in Canada, but coverage differs considerably between employers and insurance plans. 

Your plan may cover some or all of the following:

• fertility medications
• diagnostic testing
• IUI or IVF procedures
• egg or sperm freezing
• embryo storage
• donor sperm or eggs
• fertility counselling
• surrogacy-related services
• adoption or broader family-building expenses

Do not assume that a general drug plan covers fertility medications.

Ask your insurer or human resources department specific questions:

• Is there a fertility-treatment maximum?
• Is the maximum annual or lifetime?
• Are medications covered separately from procedures?
• Is pre-authorization required?
• Must treatment be medically necessary?
• Are donor conception, fertility preservation and surrogacy included?
• Does coverage apply equally to single parents and 2SLGBTQ+ families?
• Can benefits be coordinated with a spouse or partner’s plan?
• Will provincial funding affect the amount available?
• Which receipts and medical forms must be submitted?

If your plan does not offer meaningful fertility coverage, Fertility Matters Canada provides information about advocating for more inclusive workplace fertility and family-building benefits.

Eligible members of the Canadian Armed Forces may have separate fertility coverage, including coverage for certain procedures and medications. Members should seek pre-approval through Canadian Forces Health Services before starting treatment.

Financing Options for Fertility Treatment

If grants, public funding, and benefits do not cover the full cost, some families consider financing.

Possible options include:

• clinic payment plans
• personal savings
• a dedicated family-building savings account
• a personal line of credit
• a home equity line of credit
• a bank or third-party medical loan
• support from family members
• crowdfunding

Financing can make treatment accessible sooner but borrowing costs matter. Compare the interest rate, repayment term, administrative fees, and total amount repayable – not only the monthly payment.

It is also wise to avoid committing every available dollar to the first treatment cycle. Your treatment plan may change, additional transfers may be required, or you may later need funds for donor conception, surrogacy, pregnancy, travel, or legal work.

Tax Credits & Medical Expense Claims

The federal Medical Expense Tax Credit, or METC, can reduce the income tax payable by individuals who incur qualifying medical expenses.

The federal government expanded the rules in 2022 to recognize more fertility-related expenses.

Depending on the circumstances, eligible expenses may include:

• fertility procedures provided by qualifying medical practitioners or clinics
• IVF
• egg and sperm freezing and storage
• certain amounts paid to Canadian fertility clinics or donor banks to obtain sperm, eggs, or embryos
• certain qualifying expenses incurred in Canada in relation to a donor or surrogate

The rules are detailed and not every family-building expense qualifies. In particular:

• Expenses that have been reimbursed or are reimbursable generally cannot also be claimed.
• Fertility-related expenses incurred outside Canada may not qualify under the expanded donor and surrogacy provisions.
• Legal fees are not automatically medical expenses simply because they relate to fertility treatment or family building.
• The amount of the credit depends partly on income and eligible expenses; it is not a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement.

Keep all invoices, prescriptions, proof of payment, reimbursement records, and clinic documentation. The Canada Revenue Agency provides more information in its guide to eligible medical expenses. Consult an accountant or tax professional about your particular expenses and whether one spouse or partner should make the claim.

Legal & Other Costs to Budget for Beyond Medical Treatment

A fertility clinic’s estimate may represent only part of your family-building budget.

If you are using donor sperm, donor eggs, donated embryos, or a surrogate, you may also need to plan for:

• independent legal advice
• gamete donation, embryo donation, or surrogacy agreements
• psychological counselling and assessments
• medical and genetic screening
• donor agency or program fees
• insurance
• travel and accommodation
• embryo transportation
• permitted donor or surrogate reimbursements
• hospital planning
• parentage declarations or a court application after birth
• birth certificates, passports, and international documentation

Build your budget around the entire path to parenthood – not only the next medical procedure. A fertility lawyer can help identify the legal stages and likely costs early enough to avoid unexpected delays.

Why Legal Planning Should Be Part of Your Budget

Legal planning becomes particularly important when someone other than the intended parent or parents contributes eggs, sperm, or embryos, or carries the pregnancy, in which case a fertility agreement is a necessary step.

A properly prepared agreement can address:

• everyone’s intentions and legal roles
• decision-making during treatment
• consent to the use and storage of reproductive material
• future contact and information sharing
• withdrawal of consent
• disposition of remaining embryos
• expense reimbursement
• insurance and risk
• expectations during a surrogate pregnancy
• parentage and post-birth steps

In Canada, it is illegal to purchase eggs, sperm, or embryos or to pay someone to act as a surrogate. However, donors and surrogates may be reimbursed for qualifying out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with federal law and the applicable regulations.

Receipts and proper records are important. Health Canada explains the rules in its guidance on reimbursing donors and surrogates.

Flowerday has also launched Plaid Fertility Law, a technology-powered platform for drafting donor and surrogacy agreements in Canada – another option worth exploring as you plan for legal costs.

A gamete donation, embryo donation, or surrogacy agreement is therefore more than a formality. It helps the parties understand what may be reimbursed, what documentation should be maintained, and how responsibilities will be managed.

Legal requirements also vary by province. If the intended parents, donor, surrogate, or fertility clinic are in different jurisdictions, or if the child will live outside Canada, then early legal advice is especially important.

Waiting until embryos are ready for transfer can lead to unnecessary stress or a missed treatment timeline.

Contacting a fertility lawyer early allows legal fees, independent legal advice, and post-birth parentage work to be included in the overall budget from the beginning.

Considering a donor or surrogacy arrangement? Book a free consultation with Michelle Flowerday to make sure your legal agreements and budget are aligned before treatment begins.

Additional Fertility Funding & Support Resources

The following resources are useful starting points:

• Government of Canada: Financial Support for Fertility Treatment and Surrogacy
• Fertility Friends Foundation
• The Modern Miracle Foundation
• Fertility Matters Canada
• Canada Revenue Agency: Medical Expenses
• your provincial or territorial ministry of health
• your fertility clinic’s financial coordinator
• your employer’s human resources or benefits department
• a qualified accountant or tax professional
• a fertility lawyer familiar with donor conception and surrogacy

Planning to Use Donor Sperm, Donor Eggs, Embryos, or Surrogacy?

Financial planning is only one part of a successful family-building journey.

If you are considering donor conception, embryo donation, or surrogacy, obtaining legal advice early can help you understand the agreements, reimbursements, timing, and parentage steps that may apply.

Flowerday Fertility Law helps intended parents, donors, and surrogates navigate the legal aspects of assisted reproduction in Canada. 

Contact us to learn when legal guidance should become part of your family-building plan.

This blog provides general information only and does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or tax advice. Funding programs and eligibility requirements may change. Obtain up-to-date advice based on your individual circumstances.