WINNIPEG — Manitoba Liberals are promising more money for women who are struggling to get pregnant, although some of the key details have yet to be worked out.
Leader Rana Bokhari says that if she becomes premier in next April’s election, her government will cover the full cost of an initial round of in-vitro fertilization
The NDP government currently provides a 40 per cent tax credit for all in-vitro treatment.
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“I do believe it has to be a full subsidy,” Bokhari said Friday as she announced the latest plan in her election platform.
It’s not clear whether the Liberals would be offering anything broader than what’s already in place.
Bokhari said funding would be limited to 400 procedures a year, which she admitted could lead to a waiting list. She also said there would be a maximum age limit that is yet to be determined. The current tax credit has no age limit and leaves the decision to each woman’s physician.
The Liberals would also set up a way to assess funding requests for subsequent rounds of in-vitro treatment for women who did not get pregnant with the first attempt, but those details haven’t been worked out yet either.
In-vitro fertilization costs about $10,000 a treatment.
“There is a cost to this, but we feel it’s the right thing to do,” Bokhari said.
The Liberals hold one seat in the legislature, but are hoping for a breakthrough in next spring’s election. Opinion polls suggest Liberal support has almost tripled since the last election.
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