Ex-U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that seeks to lower the price of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and make fertility treatments more accessible throughout the United States. The order instructs his administration to come up with policy recommendations within 90 days to make IVF affordable and guarantee steady access. But it does not indicate how these expenses would be funded.
The move is part of Trump’s wider initiative to confront reproductive health conditions and deliver his campaign commitments. The executive order seeks to help individuals and couples with infertility at a financial hardship by reducing costs of fertility care. Nevertheless, although the order targets reducing charges and increasing availability, it neither specifies funding techniques nor insurance provisions.
Increasing Access to Fertility Treatments
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical intervention that assists individuals and couples to give birth when conception through natural means is not viable. It entails fertilizing an egg outside the body and later inserting it into the uterus. IVF treatment is costly, with prices from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle, out of reach for many without insurance cover.
Trump’s executive order instructs his domestic policy staff to develop a list of suggestions to increase IVF access and lower costs within three months. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is dedicated to making fertility treatments affordable while lowering the cost burden for families.
The order instructs policy recommendations to safeguard IVF access and aggressively lower out-of-pocket and health plan expenses for such treatments,” Leavitt stated in a statement.
The move has received a mixed response. The supporters of the move feel that the availability of cheaper fertility treatments will bring hope to numerous families who struggle to conceive. The critics point out that the executive order does not have clear details on how the cheaper rates will be introduced and how the costs will be covered.
Trump’s IVF Campaign Promise
Trump made repeated promises during his presidential campaign to increase access to fertility treatments. He offered a plan to make IVF treatment free, an estimated $7 billion-a-year policy, based on reports from the *New York Post*. The plan was to assist people and couples who have difficulty conceiving by making government aid or insurance coverage for IVF available.
Although Trump’s move to reduce IVF prices is in line with his previous commitments, it is not clear if his government will completely cover these procedures or leave it to private insurance providers. Critics point out that without a definite funding plan, the executive order might not be very effective.
The executive order is an indication of Trump’s move to appeal to voters who are worried about reproductive health and family planning matters. But questions linger regarding whether the policy will bring tangible advantages for couples struggling with infertility.
Trump’s Shifting Stance on Reproductive Rights
Trump’s reproductive rights record has been contentious. In his 2016 presidential campaign, he pushed for a ban on abortion and even went so far as to propose that women who get the procedure done should be punished “in some way.
While serving as president, Trump nominated three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, which prompted the 2022 decision striking down *Roe v. Wade*, the federal protection of abortion rights since nearly 50 years. In this ruling, the authority for controlling abortion law was given back to individual states, and abortion was subsequently prohibited across the country in most instances.
Trump’s stance on reproductive rights, though, seemed to change during his 2024 campaign. He disavowed the notion of a federal ban on abortion, indicating that policies on abortion must be left to individual states. This was a deviation from his previous hardline stance and was interpreted as an attempt to attract a wider pool of voters.
Even as his attitudes toward abortion continue to change, Trump’s promise to open access to fertility drugs is one that continues on his platform. Through the executive order, he wants to make himself out as a champion for infertile couples, as he continues to be divisive about other reproductive healthcare topics.
The Future of IVF Access in the U.S.
Trump’s executive order represents a major leap toward making IVF procedures more affordable, but its ultimate impact will be contingent on how the order is put into practice. The order is silent on whether the government will subsidize the cost of IVF directly, require insurance to cover it, or implement new regulations to reduce costs.
Fertility doctors and public health officials have been guardedly optimistic about the plan. They agree that making IVF less expensive would be helpful for many individuals, but they emphasize having a tangible plan to make it affordable. Without definite funding formulas, the executive order could find it difficult to bring significant reform.
Furthermore, lawmakers and policy-makers will have a significant say in how the order is fulfilled. If Congress fails to provide funding for IVF subsidies or to mandate that insurance companies cover fertility treatments, the executive order may prove ineffective.
For the time being, Trump’s declaration has reignited debates over reproductive health and access to fertility treatments. Whether the executive order will have a tangible impact remains to be seen and will depend on the implementation in the next few months.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s executive order on IVF expenses is a daring move toward making fertility procedures more accessible and affordable. While the move has been embraced by many prospective parents, it also poses significant questions regarding funding and implementation.
If properly implemented, the policy would be a welcome relief to infertile couples. But without a well-defined budget, the order might struggle to meet its objectives. As Trump’s administration crafts policy proposals, the future of IVF availability in the U.S. hangs in the balance.
