A bill has been re-introduced by DC Councilmember Christina Henderson that could make IVF accessible for more people in the local area. The purpose of the bill is to require insurance companies to cover fertility treatments. That includes not only private insurance companies, but also Medicaid and the DC Healthcare Alliance.
If the bill passes, it will reduce barriers to these types of treatments. Costing around $20,000 per cycle, IVF may be out of reach for people who do not have high incomes, or who do not have insurance plans that cover the cost of this care. Henderson is trying to change that with the Expanding Access to Fertility Treatment Amendment Act of 2022.
The reason Henderson was inspired to reintroduce this bill is that she continues to hear of women in her district taking on second and even third jobs. They work at Amazon and Starbucks, just so they can have access to insurance that covers treatments like IVF. Many people in the DC area are starting their families later in life, but the cost of living in the area still often prohibits them from affording fertility treatments.
Additionally, many couples go through several IVF cycles before a successful pregnancy, so the cost of their treatment can be pushed higher. Requiring insurers to cover fertility treatments is a game changer for women and couples who cannot afford the high cost of these treatments to start or grow their families.
The bill was introduced last year, but it didn’t get very far. By reintroducing it this year, Henderson is showing its continued support for this type of care. The bill also underwent some changes, with scope for fertility preservation in the presence of medical conditions such as cancer.
Additionally, the bill would require coverage for unlimited embryo transfers and three IVF cycles that include egg retrieval, as well as coverage for the costs of surrogacy. The bill is currently making its way through committee.
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