The percentage of female benefits plan members using fertility drugs rose by roughly 14.57 per cent in 2024, according to a new report by Manulife Financial Corp.
The report, which analyzed the insurer’s 2024 aggregate claims data, also found while more than half (53 per cent) of Canadian employers offer coverage for fertility drugs, fewer than one per cent offer coverage for fertility clinic treatments.
Read: Claims for fertility drugs rose 12% among female plan members over five years: report
“The fertility journey often comes with significant emotional and financial challenges related to the treatments and procedures,” said Jennifer Foubert, head of product for group benefits at Manulife, in a press release. “There is a fertility funding gap in Canada. Providing coverage for both drugs and treatment make a tremendous difference for women and their partners in terms of giving them the resources they need to effectively pursue their path to parenthood.”
Covering other aspects of women’s health, the report also found more than 43 per cent of women receiving mental-health care before pregnancy didn’t make a claim after giving birth and just 14.7 per cent of new mothers made mental-health claims within six months following pregnancy.
In addition, between 2020 to 2023, use of hormone replacement therapy to help with menopause symptoms increased by 20.7 per cent. However, only 13.1 per cent of women between ages 45 and 65 made a claim for hormone replacement therapy in 2023.
Read: More than hot flashes: Women raise awareness about menopause symptoms and work