Wasserman Schultz, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make IVF Affordable

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the bipartisan Helping to Optimize Patients' Experience (HOPE) with Fertility Services Act to expand access to infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility services for Americans seeking to start or grow their families. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Laurel Lee (FL-15) joined as co-leads of the bill.

To watch the press conference, click here. For B-Roll, click here.

The HOPE with Fertility Services Act would require group health plans that cover obstetrical services to also cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and standard fertility preservation services. This includes individuals diagnosed with conditions that prevent conception or carrying a pregnancy to term, those experiencing unexplained infertility, and patients whose fertility is at risk due to medical 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. I know firsthand. Thanks to IVF, my husband and I conceived our twins, now both healthy young adults. But after enduring that struggle, I've fought to expand insurance coverage for the prohibitively costly fertility treatments that can make this only accessible to the very few who can afford it." said Wasserman Schultz. "As a breast cancer survivor, I'm also concerned with how a diagnosis, and treatments can affect survivors' ability to conceive or even prevent cancer from being genetically passed on. So, for many survivors with a BRCA gene mutation, like me, IVF can be a godsend."

"As a father of six, I'll never have a more important title than 'Dad.' 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," said Nunn. "The HOPE with Fertility Services Act makes sure that fertility care is within reach for every family - not just those who can afford it or happen to have the right insurance plan. This isn't a Republican or Democrat idea - it's an American one, and I'm proud of the strong bipartisan support behind it."

"My grandkids are one of the greatest joys of my life and they wouldn't be here today without fertility services. The average cost of IVF treatment can cost anywhere between $15,000-$30,000 and most insurance plans are not required to cover this cost," said Norcross. "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. I won't ever stop fighting to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all who need it."

"For millions of Americans, the ability to build a family is deeply personal-but too often, it is made unnecessarily difficult by cost and limited access to care," said Lee. "Infertility affects families in every corner of our country, regardless of background or income, yet access to treatment too often depends on those very factors-and that is not acceptable. The HOPE with Fertility Services Act is about changing that by ensuring families have a real opportunity-not just in theory, but in practice-to grow and thrive. This bipartisan legislation gives Americans what they deserve: the chance to pursue the American Dream and the hope of becoming parents. Strong families are the foundation of a strong nation, and this bill is an investment in the future of our country."

"So many loving couples want to start a family but struggle with infertility. With soaring out-of-pocket costs for in vitro treatment and other fertility care, Americans are oftentimes prevented from being able to have children," said Malliotakis. "Even for Americans with health insurance plans that provide some coverage, this critical treatment can be cost-prohibitive. This legislation would expand coverage and provide access to fertility treatments for millions of Americans who dream of expanding their family but have faced difficulties due to disease, ailment or unexplained infertility."

"Infertility affects 1 in 6 people, yet the majority of private insurance plans do not cover fertility treatment, leaving patients to face costs that often put parenthood out of reach," said Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. "No one should be denied the chance to build a family because of a lack of insurance coverage. The HOPE with Fertility Services Act would help address these gaps by expanding coverage for 133 million Americans who have private sector employer-sponsored health plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Our team at RESOLVE is encouraged to see Congressman Nunn and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz leading the charge on legislation that could help ease the financial burden for parents on their journey to building the families of their dreams."

"After losing our first son to Krabbe Disease, IVF gave us hope and the chance to have a healthy child," said Kasey Feldt, a patient-advocate. "Our insurance didn't cover IVF, so we used our savings to pay out-of-pocket, and every shot, procedure, and dollar was worth it to bring our sons Lukas and Harper into the world. Access to fertility treatment shouldn't depend on what someone can afford, having insurance coverage can make all the difference for people trying to build their families. I'm excited to see lawmakers taking the steps to make that a reality."

"As infertility doctors, one of the greatest challenges we face is the ability to diagnose a condition that we cannot treat because a patient lacks insurance coverage," said Dr. Valerie Lynn Baker, MD, Member of the ASRM Board of Directors and 2024 PRIMED Scholar. "Simply put, other diseases are not approached this way. Without coverage, patients are often driven towards riskier, more costly treatment options that can lead to downstream health complications for both the pregnant person and baby. We sincerely thank Representatives Nunn and Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on the HOPE with Fertility Services Act-because when IVF is covered, physicians can truly provide patient-centered care."

"Infertility is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization, and it is time we treat it that way," said Sean Tipton, ASRM Chief Advocacy & Policy Officer. "At ASRM, we firmly believe that access to care should never depend on a person's ability to pay-every patient who needs care should be able to receive it. Yet without comprehensive insurance coverage, that is too often not the reality. We applaud Representatives Nunn and Wasserman Schultz for recognizing the gap in IVF coverage and the need for a federal ERISA plan mandate. If enacted, the HOPE with Fertility Services Act will help ensure that approximately 133 million Americans with ERISA employer-sponsored health plans have access to the care they need to build the families they choose."

"For too many American families, the dream of having a child is limited not by medical possibility, but by financial barriers," said Dr. Joshua Klein, Americans for IVF Advisory Board Member. "As a physician, I see every day how access to IVF can be life-changing-and how devastating it is when that access is out of reach. The HOPE Act is a critical step toward ensuring that building a family is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a possibility for all Americans who need it."

The HOPE with Fertility Services Act is cosponsored by Representatives Pat Ryan (NY-18), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Young Kim (CA-40), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Greg Landsman (OH-01). The bill is endorsed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, the Tzedek Association, and Americans for IVF.