Like many countries, fertility treatments in the US are hard to access for many people. They are often out of reach for anyone who lacks comprehensive private health insurance or access to tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) just re-introduced a bill that proposes to expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments.
If it passes, The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act will mandate health insurers to offer coverage for fertility treatments.
It will also require them to cover fertility preservation services for people who need to undergo medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, that can damage their fertility.
Co-sponsoring The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Ac tare Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and also Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Deborah Ross (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO).
Senator Booker, who ran for the leader of the Democratic Party in the 2020 election, is dedicated to helping people dealing with infertility
He says, “infertility is a common medical condition, but few health insurance plans cover its treatment, leaving many American families financially burdened or unable to grow their families.”
“The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act will help alleviate that burden by requiring more insurance plans to cover treatment for infertility and fertility preservation services.”
Similarly, Congresswoman DeLauro is a fierce advocate for reproductive rights. She says, “when people do not have insurance coverage for infertility treatment and care, they are forced to make impossible choice between essentials like food, clothing, and housing or paying out of pocket for the chance to have a child.”
“The emotional and physical toll of infertility should not be intensified by the financial burden that can come with treatment. The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act will help ensure all Americans get the insurance coverage they deserve and the opportunity to grow their family.”
Up to one in eight American couples struggles to conceive, and they often face insurmountable challenges and hurdles to get the healthcare and treatment options they need
Only 27 % of large American employers and 14% of small employers offer any type of coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF). As any regular readers of this blog know, paying out of pocket for IVF usually exceeds $10,000, if not much more.
This bill aims to change all that. It will require private health insurance plans and some public plans (such as Medicaid, TRICARE and the VA), as well as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, to offer this coverage without raising costs.
According to Senator Gillibrand, this is a good thing. “For many families, infertility treatments are expensive and often out of reach. These important and life-changing services strengthen families and should be accessible and affordable for all. The bicameral Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act would require more insurance companies to cover infertility treatments, alleviating the financial burden many families face, and would help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow their family.”
We want to know if this bill will affect your life. Are you relying on the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act passing so you can access future treatment? Share your story in the comment section.
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