On Thursday, President Trump revealed two initiatives designed to broaden access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), an important pledge from his campaign.
During a speech in the Oval Office, Trump stated that his administration will provide guidance allowing employers to include IVF coverage in their employee insurance plans. He also shared plans to make popular fertility medications more affordable.
Officials indicated that the new guidelines from the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services would make selecting fertility benefits akin to choosing dental or vision options within an employer’s health plan.
While this new guidance doesn’t mandate that employers must provide infertility treatment benefits, officials recognized that it might take some time before interested companies implement these changes.
The administration explained that the costs associated with infertility treatment benefits would vary based on factors like employer contributions and the specifics of the coverage.
Historically, many healthcare policies from previous administrations depended on voluntary participation by companies, similar to past efforts to phase out artificial dyes and Trump’s own strategy to reduce prescription drug prices.
In addition to the coverage announcement, Trump disclosed an agreement with EMD Serono regarding their fertility drugs, including Gonal-F, emphasizing that these medications shouldn’t be sold in the U.S. for more than their highest price abroad under the “most-favored-nation” program.
President Trump remarked that EMD Serono, the leading manufacturer of fertility drugs, has consented to offer substantial discounts on their products available in the United States.
Libby Horn, the company’s vice president for U.S. Reproductive and Endocrinology, announced that their IVF treatments will now be accessible at an impressive 84% discount off the standard price.
Additionally, Horn mentioned that EMD Serono has submitted another IVF treatment, Pergobellis, for review with the FDA’s National Priority Voucher Program. This product is already available in Canada and various other nations, including those in Europe and Asia.
This announcement follows Trump’s declaration in February when he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to explore methods to make IVF more affordable.
During his campaign, Trump promised that the government or insurance companies would cover IVF expenses, which can range from $15,000 to $20,000 for each cycle. Some Republicans expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of such financial measures.
IVF garnered widespread attention during the 2024 presidential race after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos hold the same status as children. The decision halted IVF services in Alabama as clinics deemed the procedures too risky, leading to legislative action to protect IVF providers.
Trump praised Alabama Senator Katie Britt for bringing attention to IVF access issues. Last year, she and Senator Ted Cruz proposed legislation to expand IVF availability.
Britt called this the most significant pro-IVF action a president has ever taken.
Democrats, however, criticized Trump, linking the development to his Supreme Court nominees who played a role in overturning Roe v. Wade.
Republicans found themselves in a challenging situation; they didn’t want to limit IVF access but many shared the belief that embryos should be treated as children. Notably, Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, was vocal on this point, having used IVF himself to have a child.
In light of last year’s election, Democrats highlighted this issue, proposing a bill to establish a federal IVF right and ensure insurance coverage for IVF and other fertility treatments. However, this effort was blocked repeatedly by Republicans who dismissed it as a meaningless vote.
IVF typically involves creating multiple embryos to improve the chances of success. Often, unused embryos are discarded, donated for research, or given to couples struggling with fertility. Trump’s support for IVF might put him at odds with staunch anti-abortion advocates.
Still, some actions from the Trump administration seemed to contradict his support for fertility initiatives.
The cuts initiated by the Department of Health and Human Services shortly after Trump began his second term significantly affected reproductive health offices, seemingly conflicting with his stated goal of increasing birth rates.
A former staffer expressed disbelief over these targeted cuts, questioning how someone who labeled themselves a “leader in fertility” could reduce the reproductive health division at the CDC by 75%.
