Out-of-pocket fertility preservation expenses: data from a Japanese nationwide multicenter survey

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2024年9月4日

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Masanori Ono,
Yasushi Takai,
Miyuki Harada,
Akihito Horie,
Yidan Dai,
Eiji Kikuchi,
Mitsuru Miyachi,
Tetsuya Yamamoto,
Nobuharu Fujii,
Hiroaki Kajiyama,
Atsushi Manabe,
Toshiaki Yasuoka,
Shinji Katsuragi,
Keiko Mekaru,
Tadashi Maezawa,
Yuki Horage,
Shinsuke Kataoka,
Robert Nakayama,
Takako Eguchi Nakajima,
Fuminori Kimura,
Chikako Shimizu,
Kohei Sugimoto,
Seido Takae,
Yasushi Yumura,
Hirotaka Nishi,
Tatsuro Furui,
Ken-Ichirou Morishige,
Chie Watanabe,
Yutaka Osuga,
Nao Suzuki

摘要

Background

The expenses related to fertility preservation or subsequent assisted reproductive treatments are significant for adolescents and young adult patients in Japan’s current healthcare system. With fertility preservation becoming more widespread in developed countries, it is expected that these costs will be covered by insurance or subsidies. It is critical for patients, healthcare providers, and the government to know the costs that patients will be responsible for. In Japan, the costs of fertility preservation and subsequent assisted reproductive technology are not covered by insurance, but patients can apply for subsidies from the local and central governments if certain conditions are met. Presently, the above-mentioned costs, as well as the amount paid by the patient, vary by facility. Therefore, it is essential to ensure patients’ continued access to necessary medical care despite the associated costs.

Methods

In this study, questionnaires were mailed to 186 certified fertility preservation facilities in Japan to assess patients who had undergone fertility preservation or assisted reproduction. The questionnaires were sent between October 27, 2023 and March 31, 2024, with 140 of the 186 facilities responding (response rate: 75.3%).

Results

Our findings show that approximately one-third of the costs was borne by the patients.

Conclusion

Given these circumstances, sustainable pricing and insurance coverage are necessary for both patients and facilities.