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Infertility care is healthcare—and should be covered by insurance
Published by Mother.ly. Read the full article.
The reintroduction of the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act aims to make that happen.
Infertility challenges are thought to affect as many as 1 in 5 women, according to the CDC. But fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) are still out of reach for millions, as most insurance plans and employers don’t offer coverage—or if they do, it’s far from comprehensive. But infertility care is healthcare, too. “The ability to have a family should not be denied to anyone on account of a lack of insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment,” states the text of a reintroduced bipartisan bill known as The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act.
Sponsored by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and reintroduced in July 2023, the bill would require more health insurers to provide coverage for fertility treatment along with fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo medically necessary procedures that may result in infertility, like chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
Just 27% of large employers and 14% of small employers offer insurance coverage for IVF. Out-of-pocket costs can easily exceed $10,000—per cycle.
