Houwink ten Cate advocates for full coverage of egg freezing through Dutch health insurance. She highlights the inequality that arises when only women with higher incomes can afford this expensive procedure. According to her, this creates inequality and pressures women to prioritize their careers over their desire for children, especially as some Dutch companies now offer egg freezing as a career incentive. Houwink ten Cate argues that this should not be the responsibility of employers, but of the government. 

Ploem agrees that healthcare should be accessible but also sees challenges. She emphasizes that Dutch healthcare budgets are limited and questions whether resources should be allocated to what some consider “non-essential” medical care. She also warns of societal pressure on women to delay their desire to have children. “Freezing eggs does not guarantee success,” says Ploem, who believes that promoting early parenthood and providing more information are important. 

The issue is complex, and both experts agree that societal norms place pressure on women. Egg freezing is becoming more popular, but it also raises questions about who should have access to this medical procedure and who should bear the cost.