Luodong subsidizes egg freezing up to NT$30,000, a first in Yilan County

Luodong Township in Yilan County, Taiwan, has introduced a pioneering welfare policy aimed at combating the island's declining birth rate. The "Freeze Eggs for Good Fortune" program, announced by Township Mayor Wu Chiu-ling, offers a subsidy of up to NT$30,000 to married women aged 35 to 45 who have been registered residents for at least one year.

This initiative marks the first of its kind in Yilan County to subsidize egg freezing. Recognizing that many women postpone marriage and childbirth due to career or financial considerations, egg freezing is seen as a crucial option for managing reproductive timelines. The Luodong Township government hopes this policy will help women preserve egg quality from their younger years, thereby offering greater flexibility in their family planning.

The "Freeze Eggs for Good Fortune" service is available not only to married women within the specified age and residency criteria but also to cancer patients aged 18 to 45 who are residents of Luodong. These patients can apply if their physicians assess that cancer treatments might compromise their reproductive functions. After undergoing the egg freezing procedure at a medical institution, eligible individuals can apply to the Luodong Township Office within six months, providing the necessary documentation. The subsidy covers actual medical expenses, capped at NT$30,000 per person for a lifetime, with a limit of 50 available slots annually.

Mayor Wu Chiu-ling highlighted that this program follows previous welfare initiatives, including a 2021 infant nutrition subsidy and increased maternity allowances last year. The township has raised the subsidies for first and second births to NT$20,000 and the third birth to NT$50,000. The "Freeze Eggs for Good Fortune" plan is the latest effort to alleviate the financial burdens on families wishing to have children.