Trump Moves To Cut IVF Costs With Lower Drug Prices, Insurance Coverage
President Trump announced Thursday his administration plans to lower the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) by making medication more affordable and encouraging employers to offer specific insurance that covers infertility treatments.
Trump said his administration had reached a deal with pharmaceutical company EMD Serono, a world leader in fertility drug manufacturing, to reduce the cost of some of its most common fertility medications. A typical cycle costs $15,000 to $20,000, but could be much more.
The products will also be listed on the government’s TrumpRx portal, which is expected to launch in 2026.
The drugmaker agreed to “most favored nation“ pricing – offering Americans comparable prices to other countries, where medication can be much cheaper – which would reduce costs by about 40-80% by 2026.
INSURANCE ANGLE
The White House also announced an employer benefit option for infertility coverage, similar to dental or vision coverage. Trump said he will encourage companies to offer it, but will not provide any subsidies or participation mandates. So, it is unclear how much of an impact the recommendation will have.
Only about 30% of families currently have access to any employer-based coverage for fertility treatment, while infertility affects nearly one in six people of reproductive age.
IVF accounts for about 2% of births in the U.S.
In February, Trump signed an executive order requesting policy recommendations for reducing the cost of IVF.
Bigger picture: On the campaign trail, he called himself the “father of IVF“ after he began to embrace fertility issues when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used in IVF should be considered children, prompting backlash from both parties.
Trump’s focus on the issue has faced criticism within his base, especially from Christian conservatives who take issue with the procedure that often involves discarding unused embryos.