WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS12) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday introduced new legislation aimed at expanding insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation services, a move sponsors say would help millions of Americans start or grow their families.
The Helping to Optimize Patients’ Experience with Fertility Services Act, known as the HOPE with Fertility Services Act, was introduced by U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DFlorida, and Zach Nunn, RIowa, with bipartisan backing from a coalition of Republicans and Democrats across the country. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Donald Norcross of New Jersey, and Laurel Lee of Florida are serving as co-leads on the bill.
If enacted, the legislation would require group health plans that already cover obstetrical services to also cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and standard fertility preservation. Supporters say the measure would close long-standing gaps in coverage that force many patients to pay tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for care such as in vitro fertilization.
The bill would extend coverage to individuals diagnosed with medical conditions that prevent conception or carrying a pregnancy to term, those facing unexplained infertility, and patients whose fertility is threatened by treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other invasive procedures.
“Infertility impacts millions and doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone who wants to start or grow a family,” Wasserman Schultz said, sharing her own experience conceiving twins through IVF. A breast cancer survivor with a BRCA gene mutation, she said, fertility services can be critical not only to family building but also to preventing certain genetic diseases from being passed on. She has long advocated for expanding insurance coverage for fertility treatments, which she described as prohibitively expensive for most Americans.
Nunn, a father of six, framed the legislation as a common-sense policy rooted in family values rather than partisan politics. “Starting a family is one of the biggest dreams couples have, and no one should be denied that opportunity because of infertility, cancer treatments, or cost,” he said. “This isn’t a Republican or Democrat idea — it’s an American one.”
Lawmakers backing the bill emphasized the financial burden faced by patients. Norcross noted that a single cycle of IVF can cost between $15,000 and $30,000 and said most insurance plans are not required to cover the treatment. “The HOPE with Fertility Services Act makes starting a family possible for the millions of Americans across the country who struggle to bring a child into our world,” he said.
Lee called infertility a deeply personal issue that affects families regardless of background or income. She said access to care too often depends on financial circumstances, something she described as unacceptable. “Strong families are the foundation of a strong nation, and this bill is an investment in the future of our country,” Lee said.
In Washington, D.C., on March 26, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Zach Nunn of Iowa, joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, introduced the HOPE with Fertility Services Act to require group health plans that cover obstetrical care to also cover infertility diagnosis, treatment and fertility preservation, aiming to reduce financial barriers and expand access to care for millions of Americans who want to start or grow their families but are limited by cost or medical circumstances. (Office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
Malliotakis echoed that sentiment, pointing to rising out-of-pocket costs that prevent many insured Americans from accessing fertility care. She said the legislation would help families facing infertility due to disease, medical conditions, or unexplained causes.
Patient advocates and medical professionals also voiced strong support for the proposal. Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, said infertility affects one in six people, yet most private insurance plans offer little to no coverage. She said the bill could expand coverage to roughly 133 million Americans enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Kasey Feldt, a patient-advocate, shared her family’s experience paying out of pocket for IVF after losing a child to Krabbe Disease. She said access to coverage could make the difference for families trying to build a healthy future.
Physicians warned that lack of insurance coverage can lead to delayed or riskier treatment. Dr. Valerie Lynn Baker, a reproductive endocrinologist and member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s board, said doctors are often unable to treat diagnosed conditions because patients cannot afford care. “Other diseases are not approached this way,” she said.
Sean Tipton, ASRM’s chief advocacy and policy officer, said infertility is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization and should be treated accordingly. “Access to care should never depend on a person’s ability to pay,” he said.
The bill has drawn endorsements from ASRM, RESOLVE, the Tzedek Association, and Americans for IVF. Additional cosponsors include Reps. Pat Ryan of New York, Dan Goldman of New York, Mike Lawler of New York, Young Kim of California, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Greg Landsman of Ohio.
Supporters say the broad bipartisan coalition reflects growing consensus that fertility care should be treated as an essential part of health coverage rather than a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.
