Taipei to expand pregnancy subsidy programs next year
明年台北將擴大懷孕補貼計劃
| New measures include NIPT screening support, egg-freezing subsidies, and increased IVF financial aid
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei announced plans to implement three pregnancy subsidy programs next year, including expanded Down syndrome screening options, increased support for egg freezing services, and a higher subsidy for assisted reproductive treatments. The city on Monday said it will subsidize non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down syndrome screening in addition to existing first and second-trimester options. This measure will provide pregnant women with Taipei residency with comprehensive screening choices, per CNA. NIPT, a Down syndrome screening method, is a non-invasive test that requires only blood samples from pregnant women to detect fetal chromosomes. Down syndrome is a common chromosomal disorder that can cause intellectual disability in infants. Women under 40 with Taipei residency, regardless of cancer type, can apply for subsidies of up to NT$32,000 (US$985) to freeze and store their eggs for four years. This local program complements the national health insurance initiative, which offers egg-freezing subsidies for breast cancer patients. Infertility, which impacts 10-15% of couples in Taiwan, will also receive attention through increased financial aid for fertility treatments. Couples residing in Taipei, where the woman is under 44, will be eligible for an additional NT$25,000 subsidy for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The initiative is projected to assist hundreds of couples annually. IVF is a medical procedure where eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovary and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting, according to the US National Cancer Institute. |
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| Charlotte Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2024-12-17 |
