Since the insurance coverage for infertility treatment was expanded in April, the number of new patients receiving medical examinations has increased 1.3 times from last year at clinics with a large number of cases in Tokyo, and one month's worth of medical examination reservations can be made in one day. An increasing number of people are starting fertility treatment, such as being buried.

From this year, public insurance will be applied to infertility treatment such as "in vitro fertilization" that artificially fertilizes and "microinsemination" that injects sperm into an egg using an injection needle, etc. Was 30% in principle.



When we interviewed four clinics in Tokyo, where the total number of such treatments in 2020 accounts for 40% of the total, the appointments for the next month's consultation are filled up in one day, and fertility treatment The number of participants in the briefing session for those who start the treatment has more than doubled, and the number of people who are starting new treatment is increasing after April.



Of these, at the clinic in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, the number of new patient consultations was 640 in April, which is about 1.3 times the monthly average of last year, and there are days when more than 300 patients receive consultations on weekends. It means that there is.

The couple in their late 30s who visited this clinic started in vitro fertilization treatment in April because they did not get pregnant for half a year after getting married last September.



After receiving an explanation from a doctor about the mechanism and procedure of in vitro fertilization and making a treatment plan, the couple was taught by a nurse how to inject a drug to promote ovulation.



A 37-year-old wife said, "She heard that fertility treatment is expensive, but her back was pushed by her expanded insurance coverage and she started treatment." I was there.



At this clinic, the patient's self-pay is about 20% lower on average than when there was a subsidy from the government until last year, and the number of consultations is increasing, but a plan for infertility treatment has been created. Due to the requirement, the consultation time is longer and the waiting time is about 1.5 times longer.

Rikikazu Sugiyama, the president of the clinic, said, "With the expansion of insurance coverage, couples suffering from infertility will be recognized as treatment targets, making it easier to see medical institutions and taking time off from work. I think the entrance to start has expanded. "

Expert "In some cases, the self-pay will increase"

Professor Emeritus Yasunori Yoshimura of Keio University, who is familiar with fertility treatment, said, "The expansion of insurance coverage has eased the financial burden on many patients, but I have been treated at a local clinic that had a low price. For the patients in the department, the medical expenses were covered by the subsidy from the government, but the insurance coverage now covers 30%, so there are cases where the self-pay increases. "



On the other hand, if you receive a test or treatment that is not covered by insurance, such as a "preimplantation genetic diagnosis" that checks for abnormalities in the chromosomes of the fertilized egg, you may be responsible for all the costs of the treatment. It seems that there are some people whose financial burden has increased depending on the content of fertility treatment.



Professor Emeritus Yoshimura said, "For those who absolutely want to receive new tests and treatments, the out-of-pocket costs will increase compared to last year when there was a subsidy. The expansion of insurance coverage for infertility treatment has just begun. There are various issues, but it is important to improve while listening to the voices of patients and medical professionals. "