During a recent interview with NBC News, Donald Trump announced a bold policy promise: if re-elected, his administration would ensure that in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment would be covered, either by the government or insurance companies. Trump emphasized the importance of supporting families and helping them overcome fertility challenges.
When asked about his administration’s plans for IVF, Trump declared, “I was always for IVF right from the beginning.” He highlighted how IVF empowers couples facing fertility issues to have children and emphasized that his administration would either “pay for that treatment” or “mandate that the insurance company pay.”
This policy promise comes at a critical time, as the cost of IVF poses a significant burden for many couples. The average price for a single IVF cycle ranges from $14,000 to $20,000, and the cost can be even higher depending on location. Many couples require multiple cycles for the treatment to be successful. Furthermore, the cost of fertility medications, genetic testing, and embryo storage further drives up the total cost.
Trump’s proposal aims to alleviate this financial pressure for families hoping to grow. He has pledged that his administration will ensure all Americans in need of IVF receive the necessary assistance. In a recent town hall in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Trump sat down with former U.S. representative Tulsi Gabbard, who shared her personal experience with IVF. “My husband and I were married almost ten years ago,” she shared. “We wanted to start a family, we were very excited about it. Unfortunately, it was very difficult – we were not successful in trying to get pregnant. For us, IVF seemed to be the only option and the last resort.” Trump responded by reiterating his commitment: either the government would pay for the treatment, or they would mandate insurance companies to do so.
Beyond this promise, Trump hasn’t provided many specifics about how he would implement this policy. As his IVF plan garners attention, critics argue that it contradicts conservative stances advocating for fetal personhood. The IVF process involves fertilizing an egg with sperm in a lab before transferring an embryo to a woman’s uterus. During this process, multiple embryos are often created, and some may not survive. With the overturning of Roe v Wade, critics of Trump’s plan are concerned that Republicans supporting fetal personhood – which grants embryos the same rights as a person – could potentially make IVF illegal.
Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, stated, “Because Trump overturned Roe v Wade, IVF is already under attack and women’s freedoms have been ripped away in states across the country. There is only one candidate in this race who trusts women and will protect our freedom to make health care decisions: Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Despite the backlash, Trump continues to assert his promise of paying for IVF and positions himself as a supporter of American families. He has proposed initiatives like eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits.
