Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) said Sunday he was “open to” former President Trump's proposal that in vitro fertilization (IVF) be paid for by the government or insurance companies.
“As far as I know, every Republican in Congress supports IVF. No state has banned it or restricted its availability,” Cotton said in an interview on NBC News' “Meet the Press.” “IVF is expensive for a lot of couples, I understand that, so I'm in favor of it, and I think the majority of Republicans would be in favor of it too.”
The Republican senator said the financial impact must first be assessed: “Can taxpayers afford this?” and “how will it affect premiums?”
“But in principle I don't think it's controversial at all to support couples who are trying IVF or other fertility treatments,” he said.
President Trump said last Thursday that if elected in November, his administration would protect access to IVF and have the government or insurance companies pay for the treatment.
“Under a Trump administration, we're going to be paying for that care,” he said in an exclusive interview. NBC NewsHe added that it would apply to “every American who gets it, every American who needs it.”
“So we will either pay for that care or require the insurance company to pay,” he added.
“Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker noted that Cotton voted against a Senate bill that would have protected and expanded access to in vitro fertilization and required some coverage by health insurance plans.
Cotton called the bill “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's ridiculous messaging bill” and said it also contains a variety of policies that Schumer has “cooked together.”
“This bill would have protected and expanded access to infantry fighting vehicles, so the answer is no,” Welcker replied.
Asked where the money for IVF under Trump's proposal would come from, Cotton said “we need to evaluate the specific bill.”
Welker then suggested Cotton hadn't made a decision yet about government-funded IVF programs, to which Cotton replied, “Well, I certainly support couples having access to IVF and it's not a controversial issue in all 50 states.”
But Cotton's Republican colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said he doesn't support the idea of requiring insurance companies to cover IVF treatments.
Asked if he supported the proposal, Graham replied: “No, because it's never-ending.”
Graham instead proposed a tax credit for people who get pregnant through IVF or other treatments.
