Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues in Effort to Guarantee Nationwide Access to IVF

Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues in Effort to Guarantee Nationwide Access to IVF

Oregon senators: Nearly two years after Trump's broken promise of free IVF, the Right to IVF Act aims to protect access to fertility care and lower health care costs.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Senate colleagues today in reintroducing a landmark legislative package designed to establish a nationwide right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and hold insurance companies accountable to cover essential fertility treatments for families.

The Right to IVF Act, comes nearly two years after Donald Trump promised free IVF for all Americans, despite his continued attacks on reproductive freedom. IVF provides a critical path toward building a family for millions of Americans struggling with infertility, yet treatments frequently come with inflated prices, putting care out of reach for middle and lower-income households.

"Deciding when and how to start a family is deeply personal, and Americans deserve access to the full spectrum of quality health care to make those critical decisions," Wyden said. "It is unacceptable for politicians or insurance companies to stand between families and the essential care they need to conceive."

"IVF should be accessible and affordable to all - it's critical care for folks wanting to start or expand their family," said Merkley.

The Right to IVF Act guarantees a federal right for patients to access IVF, protects doctors providing treatment, and shields insurers from state-level interference. Beyond basic protections, the legislation mandates that private health policies include comprehensive fertility coverage that will protect families from predatory medical debt.

The legislation also expands health coverage for federal workers, active-duty servicemembers, and veterans to include a full range of fertility treatment options.

The bill was led by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is cosponsored by the entire U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus.

Full text of the legislation is here.

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