For couples considering fertility treatment, the key question is therefore not just whether they have health insurance, but how much of the treatment the policy actually covers.
Why are more couples seeking fertility treatment?
Manjunath CS, senior fertility specialist, gynaecological laparoscopic surgeon and reproductive medicine expert at Birla Fertility & IVF, Bengaluru, said later marriage and postponed parenthood are among the changes he is seeing in his practice.
“Education, career priorities and planning are leading some couples to try for a child at an older age, when female fertility, particularly egg quantity and quality, may have declined,” he said.
He also pointed to greater identification of male-factor infertility and a gradual reduction in the stigma around men undergoing fertility evaluations.
“We are seeing more women present with a low ovarian reserve, including low anti-Müllerian hormone levels. At the same time, male-factor infertility is being identified more often, and the stigma around men getting evaluated is slowly reducing,” Manjunath said.
Richika Sahay Shukla, Co-founder and Medical Director, IndiaIVF, said fertility treatment is also becoming more visible outside the largest cities as awareness and access improve.
She said couples are seeking medical help earlier rather than treating IVF as a last resort. Later parenthood, reproductive health conditions and greater awareness of fertility treatment are among the factors influencing demand.
The formal treatment ecosystem has expanded as well. The National ART & Surrogacy Registry lists more than 4,400 registered ART clinics.
Why can IVF become expensive?
The cost of IVF is not limited to the procedure itself. It can include consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, hormonal injections, egg retrieval, laboratory procedures and embryo transfer. ICSI, embryo freezing, storage and genetic testing can add to the bill.
And one cycle may not always be enough.
Shukla said a single IVF cycle can cost around ₹1.5 lakh-₹2.5 lakh including medicines, depending on the treatment and clinic, while some couples may require more than one attempt.
Manjunath also stressed that repeat treatment can increase the financial burden.
“IVF is usually paid for out of pocket and may require more than one attempt,” he said.
This is important when assessing insurance. A ₹50,000 or ₹2 lakh fertility benefit may sound substantial, but could cover only part of the overall treatment cost depending on the policy.
Does health insurance cover IVF?
Not automatically.
Standard health insurance policies have historically excluded infertility, sterility and assisted reproductive procedures. Some insurers now offer fertility-related benefits through specific retail products or add-ons, while employer-sponsored group policies may also provide such cover.
Gautam Boda, Group Vice Chairman, JB Boda Group, said infertility treatment remains an area where insurance coverage is relatively limited, particularly in the retail market.
“Most traditional health insurance policies generally exclude infertility, sub-fertility and assisted reproductive procedures such as IVF, IUI and other ART treatments, unless the policy specifically provides such a benefit,” he said.
There are exceptions in group insurance. The Indian Banks’ Association’s 2026 medical insurance scheme, for example, provides a separate ₹2 lakh limit towards infertility treatment/IVF for eligible employees from November 1, 2026.
However, employees should check their own group policy because benefits vary between employers.
Why is fertility insurance difficult to design?
Fertility treatment can involve multiple cycles and a combination of medicines, diagnostics and procedures. This makes the eventual cost difficult to predict.
There is also a risk-selection issue in retail insurance. Customers who already anticipate fertility treatment may be more likely to purchase a policy offering such a benefit.
Paramdeep Singh, Founder of Long Tail Ventures, said the challenge is to create coverage that shares a meaningful part of the cost without making the product unaffordable.
“The answer is not simply adding IVF to every health policy, but designing coverage that meaningfully shares the cost without making premiums uneconomic,” he said.
Boda said insurers also need to address questions around waiting periods, sub-limits, medical necessity and the definition of a treatment cycle while developing fertility benefits.
What does IVF insurance actually cover?
This is where policyholders need to read the fine print.
A policy may cover IVF but exclude medicines or diagnostics. IUI, ICSI, embryo transfer, freezing and storage, donor gametes and genetic testing may also have separate conditions.
“IVF cover does not automatically include IUI, ICSI, fertility medicines, hormonal injections, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, freezing and storage, donor gametes or PGT-A,” Manjunath said.
He also pointed out that advanced procedures such as preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or PGT-A, are not required for every patient and should be based on clinical assessment.
Shivendra Pancholi, ED, Affinity Business, Coverfox, said consumers should not assume that a comprehensive health policy or maternity policy automatically includes fertility treatment.
The actual benefit can vary in terms of waiting periods, eligibility, sub-limits and the number of treatment cycles covered.
