Surrogacy and Medicare: Why the Outdated Exclusion Needs to Go

Welcome to the Australian Family and Fertility Law Podcast with your host, Stephen Page from Page Provan Family and Fertility Lawyers. In this episode, Stephen dives into the ongoing exclusion of surrogacy from Medicare coverage in Australia—a restriction that’s been in place since 1991, despite sweeping surrogacy law reforms across the country over the past decade. Stephen breaks down the recent political developments, including Senator Larissa Waters from the Greens pushing to finally remove this outdated exclusion. He sheds light on the real costs behind funding surrogacy under Medicare (hint: it’s nowhere near what the headlines claim), the regulatory hurdles that remain, and why he believes now is the time for major parties to act. If you’re interested in family law, fertility rights, or just want a clear explanation of an often-misunderstood policy, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.