Deadline Extended to Submit Insurance Application for IVF Treatment

The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has announced an extension to the deadline for applications seeking state-funded insurance coverage for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment under the Aasandha scheme.

As per the recent announcement, applicants now have until 31st July to submit their requests for financial assistance. The deadline for applications was previously due today..

advertisement

The extension offers hopeful couples more time to apply for support towards IVF treatment. IVF treatment is currently available only in privately owned Tree Top Hospital. One round of treatment costs MVR 46,000, not inclusive of hospital charges. A large number of Maldivian couples therefore travel to India to receive treatments.

Under the scheme, assistance include not only the cost of treatment but also provisions for plane tickets and accommodation during the treatment period.

Only the top 100 candidates scoring the highest points based on need will receive assistance for IVF treatment. IVF treatment is not currently available in Maldives and requires travelling overseas for treatment. The assistance is inclusive of plane tickets and accomodation for the treatment period.

Acoording to the eligibilty requirements for the scheme, couples applying for IVF treatment assistance must be married for a minimum of three years, with a diagnosed disease or condition preventing pregnancy in the past three years, and the doctor must recommend IVF as the best option.

Additionally, couples must have no existing children, no history of contraceptive surgery, the wife must be between 30-42 years of age, and the husband must be below 55 years of age. However, exceptions may be considered if the wife is 25 and above, based on doctor recommendations when no other options are viable.

Moreover, there should be no record of criminal convictions in the past three years, the wife’s BMI must be between 19-30 at the time of application, and both partners must have ceased smoking for the past six months to qualify. Additionally, applicants must not have completed three rounds of treatment under the scheme or at their own expense to be eligible for IVF treatment.