What does fertility treatment cost in Germany?
The cost of fertility treatment in Germany can vary considerably and is highly dependent on the type of treatment and the individual situation of those affected. The most common procedures include in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). IVF costs around 3,500 euros per cycle for self-payers, while ICSI can even cost around 5,500 euros. Added to this are the costs of medication and often add-ons that are not covered by health insurance. Since fertility centers charge more for self-paying patients than for patients with statutory health insurance, the latter have an advantage here. For example, IVF treatment costs patients with statutory health insurance 700-1000 euros per cycle, while ICSI treatment costs 2,800-3,300 euros. Statutory health insurance companies usually cover 50% of the costs for up to three cycles. However, with an average requirement of 3-4 treatment cycles, the personal contribution can quickly amount to over 10,000 euros, as you can expect an average success rate of 30% per embryo transfer.
A common misconception is that health insurance companies cover all the costs of fertility treatments. As already mentioned, statutory health insurance companies only cover half of the costs of certain treatments for a limited number of cycles as standard. In addition, they only cover certain treatments. As a result, around 50% of those affected cannot afford more than the cycles co-financed by their health insurance. In addition, many important treatments, such as egg freezing, are only covered for medical indications such as an impending cancer treatment. Additional add-ons, such as the cultivation of embryos beyond the third day, are not covered at all. Certain groups of people, including unmarried couples, single women and married lesbian couples, are generally excluded from coverage. The age of the person concerned also plays a significant role: women must not be older than 40 and men must not be older than 50 in order to have their costs covered by health insurance.
In addition to the treatment costs, there are often additional expenses for medication, which can amount to around 1,500 euros for an IVF cycle. There are also costs for additional diagnostics, further cultivation beyond day 3 (blastocyst culture) and the freezing of pronuclei or leftover embryos. These costs are always self-pay services that are not supported by the health insurance companies.
Overall, it can be seen that the financial outlay for fertility treatments in Germany can be considerable, especially for those who receive no or only limited support from health insurance companies and state funding. This represents a considerable burden for many couples and individuals, which is often not only financial but also emotional. In one study, 30% of those affected stated that they were unable to take advantage of fertility treatment due to the immense costs involved.
What subsidies and funding options are available
The financing of fertility treatments in Germany is supported by a combination of statutory health insurance benefits and state subsidies. Statutory health insurance companies generally only cover 50% of the costs for up to three cycles of insemination, IVF and ICSI treatments. This leaves a considerable personal contribution for those affected. To alleviate this financial burden, both the federal government and individual federal states offer additional funding.
However, federal funding only applies if the state also grants a subsidy. This is the case in twelve out of sixteen federal states. These state subsidies generally cover around 25% of the costs remaining after the health insurance subsidy, but are often linked to specific conditions. For example, the treatments must be carried out in the federal state that grants the subsidy or in a neighboring federal state. This regulation can become a burden for those affected, as the quality and therefore also the costs of fertility treatment depend on the fertility center in question. In addition, five federal states also support lesbian couples: Berlin, Bremen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia. The federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, do not offer any funding at all.
In addition, the federal government grants a further subsidy of 25% of the cost price, but only if funding is provided by the federal state. These federal subsidies are aimed at supporting heterosexual married and unmarried couples in permanent partnerships. It is important to note that the exact regulations and conditions vary from state to state, which is why thorough information and examination of the respective funding options is necessary.
In addition to state subsidies, there are also tax breaks. Medical costs, which also include expenses for fertility treatment, can be deducted from tax as extraordinary expenses as soon as they exceed an individual reasonable burden. This limit is calculated on the basis of income, marital status and the number of children. These tax benefits can also be used for treatments carried out abroad, provided the treatment complies with the German Embryo Protection Act.
In summary, the federal and state subsidies provide valuable financial relief for couples and individuals undergoing fertility treatment. Nevertheless, there is still a considerable personal contribution to be made, which must be managed through careful planning and use of all available support services.
Due to the different regulations in force in the individual federal states – in fact 16 different regulations – Germany is a patchwork quilt when it comes to financial support. For fertility patients, the application process is complex and often almost impossible to use for non-native speakers.
What role do fertility benefits play
Fertility benefits offered by companies can make a decisive difference for employees who are considering fertility treatment. By covering or partially covering the deductible and subsidizing the cost of treatment, these benefits take a considerable burden off the shoulders of those affected and, for many, make it possible to undergo such treatment in the first place. Without this financial support, those affected are often faced with the difficult decision of either financing fertility treatment or realizing other important financial goals, such as the down payment for a house.
In particular, precautionary treatments such as social freezing, in which eggs are frozen for later use, are often not carried out if no grants or additional financial resources are available. The costs for social freezing, which usually have to be borne entirely by the patients themselves, average around 4,000 euros – and even more in some metropolitan areas. These high costs represent an insurmountable hurdle for many people, which is why they forego these preventative measures.
By providing fertility benefits, employers not only support their employees financially, but also contribute to a better work-life balance. They provide an important safeguard for those in need of fertility treatment while promoting a more inclusive and supportive corporate culture. Employers who offer such benefits demonstrate a high level of commitment to the health and wellbeing of their employees, which can have a positive impact on employee satisfaction and retention.
How Onuava can support
Onuava offers comprehensive support for couples and individuals considering fertility treatment. Through financial support, an end-to-end counseling platform and tailored information and counseling services, Onuava ensures that those affected receive the best possible support on their path to parenthood.
Financial support: Onuava relieves the burden on those affected by providing direct financial support and grants towards treatment costs. This can make the decisive difference as to whether fertility treatment can be carried out or not. Especially with high deductibles and the often prohibitive costs of procedures such as social freezing, Onuava offers much-needed financial help.
End-to-end counseling platform: In addition, our offer includes access to a counseling platform that accompanies those affected from the initial consultation to the completion of treatment. This platform not only provides important information, but also enables individual consultations with experts such as doctors or nutritionists. Onuava also provides support with the application process and optimal use of all subsidies.
Information material and individual advice: The provision of a wide range of information material by experts and the possibility of individual advice help those affected to make informed decisions. This includes everything from the selection of suitable treatment centers to specific health and nutritional advice that can improve the chances of successful treatment.
Advice on choosing fertility centers: The quality of fertility centers can vary considerably and has a direct impact on the chances of treatment success. Onuava supports those affected in selecting the best centers that are individually adapted to their needs and situations. High-quality treatment can not only increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy, but also save costs in the long term by avoiding unnecessary or ineffective treatments.
Support through company policies and awareness training: Onuava works closely with companies to develop policies and conduct awareness training to create a supportive environment for employees undergoing fertility treatment. Through such measures, companies can ensure that their employees receive the best possible support.
Support for non-traditional family models: Advice on topics relating to non-traditional family models is also an integral part of the service. This is particularly important as these topics are often not covered by health insurance companies. This support can be crucial for LGBTQ+ couples, single women and other family constellations to access the treatment and information they need.
Overall, Onuava offers comprehensive support that goes far beyond financial assistance. Through targeted advice, sound information and the creation of a supportive environment, our services play a key role in helping those affected to successfully complete their fertility treatments.
