family,  infertility

Raise Your Voice IVF Funding Alberta Twitter Chat #abhc4ivf #abpoli

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It’s time, Alberta.
Wednesday night at 8 p.m. EST. It’s time to raise your voice and make some noise on twitter. It’s time to challenge our notion of a health care system that is accessible to all. It’s time to tweet and talk and write and visit and share this message with the politicians in your area – the MLAs you vote into office. It’s time to tell them healthy families matter to everyone in Alberta and IVF funding matters to Alberta.
By now you have to know the facts. I talk about them often enough here in this space.
Infertility impacts one in six. Infertility is a complex health condition as recognized by the World Health Organization. Infertility is crushing. Infertility is devastating emotionally and financially. IVF is often the prescribed course of action, but with a price range of $8,000 to $14,000 in Alberta (depending on whether medications are included in that total or not) the cost of this health care treatment is not a possibility for most Alberta couples. That leaves families in need of health care wondering how do I pay for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Several provinces of Canada now have funding for IVF, or a commitment to fund IVF.
Quebec started funding IVF in 2010.
Manitoba has had a tax credit in place for a few years.
New Brunswick recently announced an IVF funding grant of up to $5,000.
And most recently Ontario pledged to fund one round of IVF. That program is expected to be ready some time in 2015. Details and criteria for who qualifies for the program are currently being developed.
Many areas of the world have successfully funded IVF for years. There are numerous different funding models. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada has stated they support public funding for in vitro fertilization combined with single embryo transfer as the healthiest choice for families in Canada. 
 
But Alberta still has no program in place to help infertile people access the treatment they need to conceive. 
[tweetthis](The Assisted Reproductive Technologies report) shows that IVF funding coupled with SET can save up to $179 million over 18 years #abhc4ivf #abpoli [/tweetthis]
In Alberta right now we are at a critical juncture for infertility advocates and public funding advocates. This fall, the province chose a new premier, Jim Prentice. A report by the University of Alberta (The Assisted Reproductive Technologies report) has been under review by the Alberta government for months now. That review is expected to be finished soon. That report found that the province of Alberta can save up to $97 million by coupling IVF funding for Alberta with single embryo transfer for those who need treatment.
 
Want to read more:
[tweetthis]The time for IVF funding for Alberta is now. #abhc4ivf #abpoli[/tweetthis]
The time for IVF funding for Alberta is now. Join us on Wednesday the 8th at 8 p.m. EST to talk about the many reasons this makes sense and next steps for advocates.
Don’t forget to follow twitter chat hosts and panelists.
as well as MsBrookeBerry
and use these hashtags: #abhc4ivf #abpoli.
Retweet the hosts and any questions the hosts share.
It’s time for Alberta.
I am community manager for Generations of Hope and I wholeheartedly support public funding for IVF because it builds healthy families. I am also a member of the blog team for Generations of Hope and as such I am compensated. My opinion is all mine.

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.