iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
On Tuesday, February 18, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans, with a focus on reducing the high costs of the treatment.
According to a White House factsheet titled “President Donald J. Trump Expands Access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)”, the executive order directs policy recommendations to safeguard IVF access and significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses and health plan costs for those seeking IVF treatments.
The recommendations will aim to ensure reliable access to IVF.
The order also addresses existing policies that contribute to the high cost of IVF treatments, with a focus on legislative changes to reduce those costs. The White House emphasized the importance of family formation, stating that public policy should make it easier for loving parents to have children.
The factsheet noted that IVF treatments can cost between $12,000 and $25,000 per cycle, with multiple cycles often required for successful pregnancy. According to data from the Department of Health and Human Services, over 85,000 babies were born through IVF in 2021. However, the U.S. fertility rate has been steadily declining, dropping 3% in 2023 compared to 2022, with a consistent decrease of 2% per year from 2014 to 2020.
“Because we want more babies, to put it very nicely. And for this same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes, so that parents that have a beautiful baby will be able, so we’re pro family. But the IVF treatments are expensive. It’s very hard for many people to do it and to get it, but I’ve been in favor of IVF, right from the beginning,” President Trump said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the executive order, highlighting that it directs policy recommendations to lower out-of-pocket costs and improve health plan coverage for those seeking fertility treatments. She wrote on X, “PROMISES MADE. PROMISES KEPT: President Trump just signed an Executive Order to Expand Access to IVF! The Order directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments.”
