The Rudd government has done little to quell budget speculation it may limit infertile women's access to publicly-funded IVF. The razor gang also reportedly has the $3.5 billion, 30 per cent private health insurance rebate in its sights.

Before the last election, Labor promised to maintain the $319 million Medicare Safety Net, which helps 1.5 million sick and pregnant people with medical bills. But the government is said to be considering means-testing access to the net and the private health insurance rebate, as it frames the budget against the backdrop of a recession.

The safety net provides an 80 per cent rebate on out-of-hospital medical costs above $1,111, or $555 for people on low incomes. It covers visits to doctors and procedures including IVF and ultrasounds. Almost half the entire safety net goes to obstetrician and gynaecologist fees, which have climbed since the Howard government introduced the scheme in 2004. The safety net covers an unlimited number of IVF cycles, which usually cost about $4,450 each.

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The government is reportedly considering placing a cap on the number of cycles that qualify for a rebate or restricting access based on a woman's age. Access Australia chief executive Sandra Dill says, "It's going to mean that IVF for some people is (only) going to be available for the rich," she told AAP. "We have asked several times but not had a response from government about whether or not they intend to honour their pre-election promise not to touch the safety net."

National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president, Andrew Pesce, said, "You have got to balance your natural compassion ... with the need to try and not just spend lots of money on increasingly unsuccessful treatment."