Infertility Treatment: How Saxony Helps Couples Financially - Saxony's New Fertility Funding Cuts Costs but Slashes Treatment Numbers
Saxony has taken over full funding for fertility treatments after federal support ended in early 2024. The state now covers part of the costs for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for eligible couples. However, the number of applications and treatments has fallen sharply since the change.
The new scheme, approved by Saxony's state parliament in late 2024, offers subsidies of up to €2,500 per cycle. To qualify, women must be under 40, men under 50, and both must be at least 25 years old. Couples must also have lived in Saxony for a minimum of two years and require at least three IVF cycles.
Only heterosexual couples—whether married or in a stable partnership—are eligible. Unmarried couples must live together permanently, with the male partner legally recognising paternity. The state covers €375 to €450 for the first three attempts and up to €900 for the fourth. Services like egg freezing, lab procedures, or natural-cycle treatments remain excluded.
In 2024, applications dropped by nearly 30%, with 1,088 submissions compared to 1,542 the previous year. By 2025, just 1,051 treatments received funding, costing the state around €325,000—an average of roughly €309 per treatment.
The shift to state-only funding has led to fewer subsidised fertility treatments in Saxony. Eligible couples now rely on a narrower support system, with strict criteria and limited coverage. The programme remains active as of 2026, but participation continues to decline.
