P.E.I. Health Minister Cory Deagle holds a copy of Little Embryo Big Love, an IVF journal created to support people going through fertility treatment. Deagle announced changes to the province’s fertility treatment funding program, including a lifetime benefit of up to $20,000 for eligible Islanders. Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentP.E.I. is expanding its fertility treatment funding program, giving eligible Islanders lifetime access to up to $20,000.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentPremier Rob Lantz and Health and Wellness Minister Cory Deagle announced the funding Tuesday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.Article contentArticle contentThe province says the changes are intended to make fertility treatment more flexible and accessible for Island families.Article contentArticle contentChanges to previous programArticle contentUnder the previous program, funding had to be used within a 12-month period. The new funding and announcement will removes that deadline.Article contentThe province is also removing income testing, meaning Islanders can receive the funding regardless of their household income.Article content“Many families never accessed the full amount of funding because it had to be, completed within one year,” Deagle said.Article content“So this will allow it to happen over a longer, much longer, period of time and access all the funding.”Article contentDeagle said the changes came after the government heard from families and fertility advocates about problems with the previous program. The province is committing $705,000 in Budget 2026 to accommodate the program changes.Article contentDeagle said nearly 340 applicants have received approximately $1.5 million in support since the program began in 2023.Article content12-month limit removedArticle contentDr. Johan Viljoen, chief medical officer for Health P.E.I. and an obstetrician-gynecologist, said the previous 12-month limit did not reflect how fertility treatment works.Article contentArticle content“Fertility treatment doesn’t follow a calendar year,” he said.Article contentArticle contentPatients may need to stop treatment, change treatment plans or take time to recover between cycles, he said.Article contentUnder the previous system, patients could lose access to their remaining funding when the calendar year ended.Article content“The patient is now able to have more flexibility in terms of funding,” Viljoen said. “I cannot tell you how important that is going to be for our patients.”Article contentAssociated costsArticle contentViljoen said fertility treatment can also bring significant costs beyond the treatment itself.Article contentPatients may have to pay for medications, travel, time away from work and child care, particularly because some fertility services require Islanders to travel off-Island.Article content Dr. Johan Viljoen, chief medical officer for Health P.E.I., was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown on Tuesday, Aug. 18, to take part in the province’s announcement of changes to its fertility treatment funding program. Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentDeagle said the province is also looking at whether more fertility-related services could eventually be provided in P.E.I.Article contentHe said Health P.E.I. is examining the possibility of providing services such as blood work and ultrasounds locally for patients receiving treatment at clinics outside the province.
P.E.I. expanding fertility treatment funding program
