For parents facing infertility, IVF can be a lifeline—but the cost can be staggering, and access isn’t always guaranteed. On February 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at making IVF more accessible and affordable, pledging to remove financial and policy barriers that stand in the way of hopeful parents.
The executive order directs the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to submit policy recommendations within 90 days on ways to lower out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF. The White House states that this initiative is designed “to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments.”
While the federal government currently provides limited IVF coverage for military personnel, veterans, and federal employees, most private insurance plans do not offer comprehensive IVF coverage, leaving families to shoulder costs that can range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle. As many as one in seven couples experience infertility, and for many, the high cost of treatment places parenthood out of reach.
While this executive order signals an increased focus on IVF accessibility, it does not directly change existing laws or require insurance companies to cover treatment. Any future action to lower costs or expand access would require legislative support or administrative rule changes. For now, the order is a directive for federal agencies to explore potential solutions, leaving the scope of its impact uncertain.
Trump emphasizes his support for IVF
President Trump reaffirmed his support for IVF, saying:
“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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s commitment to this issue, writing on social media, “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.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who has spoken openly about her own IVF journey—she is the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office—responded by urging President Trump to take further action. Duckworth called on him to encourage Senate Republicans to support the Right to IVF legislation she introduced in June 2024, which seeks to codify IVF protections at the federal level.
Potential legal and ethical implications
While the executive order focuses on affordability and access, some reproductive rights advocates have expressed concern about how it intersects with broader efforts to define personhood at conception. In recent years, several states, including Arkansas, have introduced or passed laws that recognize embryos as having legal rights.
Some legal experts note that if such policies were to expand, they could raise questions about standard IVF practices, particularly in cases where embryos are discarded or donated. The executive order does not address these legal questions, leaving some uncertainty about how future policies might impact fertility treatments.
At the same time, the administration has framed the executive order as part of a broader effort to support family formation. The White House stated that “The Order recognizes the importance of family formation and that our Nation’s public policy must make it easier for loving and longing mothers and fathers to have children.”
Advocates are also urging policymakers to ensure that expanded access to IVF includes all family structures, including LGBTQ+ parents and single parents who rely on donor sperm or surrogacy. The executive order does not specify eligibility criteria for expanded IVF access, leading to questions about how any future policies might be structured.
Additionally, some reproductive health advocates have expressed concern that future regulations could impose restrictions on embryo disposal or limit access to fertility treatments for certain groups, reflecting broader debates over reproductive rights. At the same time, expanding access to IVF addresses only part of the challenges families face.
While making IVF more affordable could help more families bring children into the world, broader systemic challenges remain. Without paid maternity leave or affordable childcare, many parents still face significant financial burdens after their child is born. Comprehensive family support policies are necessary to ensure long-term affordability and stability for parents.
As the administration moves forward with its plans to expand access to IVF, many will be watching to see how these efforts translate into policy changes that could impact families nationwide. For now, parents seeking fertility treatments should stay informed as new recommendations emerge, as the long-term implications of this executive order remain uncertain.
If you’re considering IVF, here’s what you need to know.
Understanding IVF and its implications
What is IVF treatment?
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps individuals and couples conceive a child when natural conception is not possible or has proven unsuccessful. The process involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory, and then transferring a viable embryo into the uterus.
Related: IVF attrition: The journey from egg to embryo, explained
How does IVF work?
IVF begins with ovarian stimulation, where medication is used to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs reach maturity, they are retrieved in a minor surgical procedure and combined with sperm in a lab. If fertilization occurs, the resulting embryos are monitored for several days before one or more are transferred to the uterus. Any remaining viable embryos can be frozen for future use.
How much does IVF cost?
The cost of IVF varies widely, but a single cycle typically ranges from $12,000 to $25,000, according to the CDC’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance report. Many individuals require multiple cycles, and additional services such as embryo freezing, genetic testing, or donor sperm or eggs can add to the overall expense.
Is IVF covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for IVF is limited. Currently, 12 states mandate that insurance plans cover some level of IVF treatment, including Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. To learn more about coverage in your state, visit this state-by-state breakdown.
Most individuals pay for IVF out-of-pocket, although some employers offer fertility benefits. Federal coverage is limited primarily to active-duty military members, veterans, and federal employees.
The history of IVF
The first successful IVF birth occurred in 1978, when Louise Brown was born in the United Kingdom. Since then, advances in reproductive medicine have significantly improved IVF success rates, and it has become a widely used fertility treatment. In 2021, over 85,000 infants were born as a result of IVF in the United States, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
How are embryos made and stored?
Embryos are created by fertilizing an egg with sperm in a laboratory setting. Once fertilized, the embryo is observed for several days to assess its viability. Some embryos are transferred immediately, while others are frozen for future use. Frozen embryos are stored in specialized cryogenic tanks and can remain viable for many years.
Related: What is the IVF process really like? A fertility doctor explains
What does Trump’s IVF executive order mean?
President Trump’s executive order aims to make IVF more accessible by lowering costs and reducing policy barriers. While the order does not immediately change existing laws, it directs federal agencies to explore solutions that could ease financial burdens for those pursuing fertility treatment.
Did Trump lower the cost of IVF?
The executive order itself does not directly lower IVF costs, but it sets the stage for potential policy changes that could lead to more affordable treatment options in the future.
What is the new law about IVF?
At this stage, there is no new law regarding IVF. The executive order is a directive for policy recommendations, meaning further legislative or administrative action will be required to implement any concrete changes.
The bottom line
As more details emerge on how this order will impact access to IVF and fertility treatment costs, families navigating infertility will be looking for real, tangible policy changes that could make the journey to parenthood more attainable.
Sources:
- Expanding access to in vitro fertilization. whitehouse.gov. Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization.
- IVF Fact sheet. whitehouse.gov. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Expands Access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance — United States, 2018.
- Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021. World Health Organization. Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021.
- Insurance Coverage by State. Resolve. Insurance Coverage by State.
