Ontario Fertility Program: Complete Guide to OFP-Funded IVF in 2026

The Ontario Fertility Program (OFP) remains one of the most generous publicly funded fertility programs in North America, and 2026 brings meaningful improvements. If you live in Ontario and are considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), understanding how the OFP works can save you thousands of dollars and many months of waiting.

Who Is Eligible

The OFP funds one IVF cycle per eligible patient per lifetime when using their own eggs, with an age cap of 43. If you are using donor eggs, the age cap does not apply in the same way, which matters for many patients who have delayed family building. The program also funds an unlimited number of IUI cycles for eligible patients, which is genuinely meaningful because IUI is often the appropriate first-line treatment.

Eligibility requires Ontario residency and a valid OHIP card. You do not need to be married or partnered, and the program is open to single intended parents and LGBTQ+ families. Same-sex female couples and single women using donor sperm are routinely served.

The 12-Month Rule and the 2-Year Fast-Track Tip

To get a fertility referral through your family doctor, the standard guidance is 12 months of unsuccessful trying (6 months if you are 35 or older). Many patients do not know that there is a practical workaround: documenting two full years of trying can put you on a faster track at some clinics because it removes any question of whether further diagnostic delay is warranted. Talk with your GP about timing the referral letter carefully.

The Multiple-Clinic Referral Strategy

Waitlists for OFP-funded IVF vary enormously between clinics. Some clinics report a 4-month wait while others run 14 months for the same program. Ontario law permits referrals to multiple clinics simultaneously, and most patients are not told this. Ask your GP to send the referral to three or four OFP-participating clinics, then accept the first reasonable intake appointment. You can decline the others.

The $250 Million Expansion

In late 2025, the Ontario government announced an approximately $250 million expansion of the OFP over the 2026 to 2028 period. The investment is intended to expand clinic capacity, reduce waitlists, and improve access in underserved regions. While implementation details continue to roll out, the practical effect is more funded cycles becoming available over the next two years.

The Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit

Ontario introduced a refundable Fertility Treatment Tax Credit covering 25 percent of eligible fertility expenses up to $5,000 per year. The credit was made retroactive to January 2025, which means many families filing their 2025 returns are seeing meaningful refunds. Eligible expenses include medications, clinic fees not covered by OFP, and many out-of-pocket costs related to treatment.

What the OFP Does Not Cover

OFP funding covers the cycle itself but does not always cover medications, which can run several thousand dollars per cycle. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), donor sperm, donor eggs, embryo storage beyond a certain period, and many add-on procedures are typically patient-pay. Ask your clinic for a written cost estimate before signing intake paperwork.

Next Steps

Talk to your family doctor, ask for referrals to multiple OFP clinics, and start gathering documentation for the tax credit even before treatment begins. The combination of OFP funding plus the new tax credit makes Ontario one of the most affordable jurisdictions in North America for a first IVF cycle.