In October 2017, the government started providing state insurance coverage for any couple deemed to have difficulty after trying to conceive for more than the past one year. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Mar. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly 76,000 South Koreans have received infertility treatments since Seoul began providing state health insurance coverage for the procedures in late 2017, a report said Thursday.
The report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Rep. Nam In-soon of the ruling Democratic Party showed 76,055 people were treated for infertility between October 2017 and December last year.
The number of treatments came to about 732,700 cases. The cost totaled about 222 billion won (US$196 million), with 156 billion won coming out of the state health insurance.
In October 2017, the government started providing state insurance coverage for any couple deemed to have difficulty after trying to conceive for more than the past one year.
Previously, the government provided financial support for infertility, including artificial insemination and external fertilization, with its budget.
The insurance coverage came as South Korea remains gripped by one of the world’s lowest birthrates and a rapidly aging population.
(Yonhap)
