Booker, DeLauro Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Increase Access to Infertility Treatment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) reintroduced the bicameral Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act, legislation that would require more health insurers to provide coverage for infertility treatment, as well as fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo medically necessary procedures that may cause infertility, such as chemotherapy.

“Infertility is a prevalent medical condition, but treatments are often cost prohibitive for many and few health insurance plans cover them,” said Senator Booker. “We must not allow financial constraints dictate who gets the opportunity to start or grow a family. I am proud to join Representative DeLauro in introducing this bill that will require more insurance plans to cover treatment for infertility and fertility preservation services, so everyone has access to the care they need to grow their families.”

“When people do not have insurance coverage for infertility treatment and care, they are forced to make impossible choices between essentials like food, clothing, and housing or paying out of pocket for the chance to have a child,” said Representative DeLauro. “The emotional and physical toll of infertility should not be intensified by the financial burden that can come with treatment. This bill will ensure that American families get the insurance coverage they deserve and the opportunity to grow their family.”

“Too many people in the U.S. struggle to build their family, with out-of-pocket medical costs creating the biggest barrier. We need to prioritize family building, and that means policy change that allows for everyone to access the medical care they need to build their family. Our community applauds Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Senator Cory Booker on being champions for families by introducing the ‘Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act’,” said Barbara Collura, President/CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

“Infertility care is health care. Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormone disorders in women and one of the most frequent causes of infertility. People with medical conditions that impact their ability to build their families need access to treatments and interventions to help them conceive their children. Insurance often covers the diagnosis of infertility but not the treatment. This discriminatory practice has rendered infertility treatments unaffordable for many families and severely impacts their financial futures as well as their ability to have children. We commend this effort to increase access to much-needed infertility care for everyone diagnosed with infertility,” said Sasha Ottey, MHA, MT (ASCP), Executive Director of PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association.

“Cost should never be a barrier to growing your family, but for many military members, it is. TRICARE, the military health benefit, does not cover infertility treatment, which makes family planning impossible for those in uniform and their loved ones navigating deployments, trainings, and their duty to our nation. We thank Senator Booker and Representative DeLauro for introducing this important legislation and for including TRICARE in its requirements,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of National Military Family Association.

“Hadassah applauds Senator Booker and Representative DeLauro for introducing this important measure to expand access to fertility preservation services and infertility care,”  said Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow.  “Infertility impacts millions of people across the United States and disproportionately impacts the Jewish community. Hadassah is proud to lead efforts to destigmatize infertility and advocate for expanded research, treatments, and access to care,” said Rhoda Smolow, President of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

“Currently, coverage for infertility treatment and services in the US is limited by zip code and employer. The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act would help individuals and families who are impacted by infertility by requiring that health plans provide coverage for the treatment of infertility and ensure that these plans also cover fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo a medically necessary procedure that may cause infertility, such as chemotherapy. ASRM is proud to endorse the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act, and we commend Senator Booker and Representative DeLauro for their leadership and commitment to reproductive healthcare,” said Dr. Michael Thomas, President of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Despite the prevalence of infertility – a reported one in eight couples have challenges conceiving — coverage for treatment options is limited. For example, only 27 percent of large employers — and 14 percent of small employers provide insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization. For those who have the resources and decide to pay out-of-pocket for infertility treatment, costs can easily exceed $10,000.

Specifically, the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act would:

• Require most private health insurance plans, as well as plans offered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medicaid, TRICARE, ERISA, and the VA, to provide coverage for treatment of infertility without raising insurance or copayment costs.
• Ensure these plans cover fertility preservation services for individuals who undergo a medically necessary procedure that may cause infertility.

The bill is endorsed by the following organizations: The American Urological Association (AUA), Endocrine Society, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, National Military Family Association, Alliance for Fertility Preservation, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, Service Women’s Action Network, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, RESOLVE, ASRM, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI), PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association.

The full text of the bill can be found here.