Former President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to mandate insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) has reignited the legislative debate over the issue, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) planning to reintroduce a Democrat-backed bill that had previously failed in the Senate.
The bill, known as the Right to IVF Act, aims to expand access to IVF by requiring insurance companies to cover the treatment, a stance that has drawn renewed attention following Trump’s public endorsement of the procedure.
In a letter to senators, Schumer highlighted Trump’s position.
“As our national debate on reproductive rights has continued to unfold, we have seen the Republican Party’s nominee for president claim to be ‘a leader in fertilization’ and come out in support of expanding access to IVF by requiring insurance companies to cover IVF treatment… So, we are going to give our Republican colleagues another chance to show the American people where they stand,” Schumer wrote.
Trump, in a speech delivered at a Michigan event last month, underscored his commitment to making IVF more accessible.
“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for — or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for — all costs associated with IVF treatment. Because we want more babies, to put it nicely,” he stated.
The former president’s backing of IVF coverage, which is seen by some as an unexpected stance within conservative circles, offers Republicans a new avenue to support reproductive rights without compromising traditional conservative values. Many Republican lawmakers, such as Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have expressed strong support for IVF, with Scott introducing his own proposals to make the treatment more affordable by increasing Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits. However, some Republicans remain cautious about the potential financial implications of mandating private insurance coverage.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged Trump’s support for the issue.
“I don’t know of any Republicans not in favor of IVF. The mandate part, that’s a challenging issue for lots of reasons, not the least of which is what it does to insurance costs,” he commented.
Though Schumer’s bill is expected to face significant Republican opposition once again, Trump’s vocal support for IVF may encourage more bipartisan dialogue on the topic. Republicans like Cruz and Scott have already proposed alternative IVF legislation aimed at maintaining commonsense regulation without federal mandates. Nonetheless, the issue has opened the door for Republicans to adopt a more pro-family stance that aligns with Trump’s proposal while addressing concerns about rising healthcare costs.
As the 2024 election approaches, Trump’s alignment with IVF could further distinguish him as a candidate willing to break traditional conservative molds, offering a policy stance that speaks directly to families struggling with fertility issues. While the outcome of Schumer’s revived bill remains uncertain, Trump’s support has shifted the conversation and brought new attention to the issue of reproductive health within the GOP.
FOX Business, CNN, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
