IVF Access in the U.S.: Updates On Fertility Coverage and Family Building
Recent IVF News
On October 17, 2025, the administration announced a major initiative to increase access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and lower the cost of fertility treatment nationwide. This announcement arrives as a response to the rising infertility rates in the U.S. IVF demand continues to grow, with one in six families reporting challenges conceiving children. Barriers to reproductive care remain significant, driven primarily by high treatment costs, gaps in insurance coverage, limited capacity at IVF clinics, and a changing reproductive law landscape.
What the White House Says
The executive order from February focused on expanding coverage and affordability for IVF across the U.S. According to the official White House announcement, the “Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization” directive aims to:
Make fertility medications and procedures more affordable through centralized drug pricing platforms
Increase insurance coverage for IVF and related services
Address inequities and disparities in access to fertility care
Encourage public-private partnerships to meet growing demand for treatment
The cost of a single IVF cycle in the U.S. typically ranges between $12,000 and $25,000. According to Pinnacle Fertility, around 65% of parents conceive successfully after six or more cycles. For most families, that total cost is financially out of reach.
The TrumpRx Platform and Fertility Medication Discounts
A major element of this policy push is the TrumpRx purchasing platform, scheduled to launch in January 2026. This initiative is designed to reduce fertility drug prices through strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. Three major players have already committed to the platform:
Pfizer Healthcare has agreed to list IVF-related medications on TrumpRx at significant discounts, lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients.
AstraZeneca followed shortly after, finalizing a similar drug-pricing deal for their fertility medication line.
EMD Serono, the U.S. subsidiary of German company Merck KGaA and the manufacturer of widely used fertility medications like Gonal-f, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide, became the third major pharmaceutical partner to commit to the platform.
This is a landmark development for IVF access and coverage, offering families the possibility of more transparent pricing, predictable medication costs, and ultimately greater access to care.
A Voice from a Reproductive Lawyer and Advocate
Janene Oleaga, Fertility Lawyer and Reproductive Rights Advocate, has spent her career helping intended parents, surrogates, and donors navigate the complex legal and financial landscape of assisted reproduction. While she’s optimistic about the administration’s focus on fertility care, she insists that the conversation must address access to the full spectrum of reproductive care for all Americans.
“Access to IVF care and fertility care in general has been a problem for a long time. I’m thrilled that it’s finally getting the attention it deserves at the federal level.” — Janene Oleaga
Beyond cost, Oleaga emphasizes the role of insurance coverage as a key factor in determining whether families can move forward with treatment.
“Cost is the biggest barrier to access to care, but it’s certainly not the only barrier... When fertility treatment is covered by insurance, that can make the difference between people being able to grow their families and people who simply can’t afford it.” — Janene Oleaga
Notably, fertility legislation must also exist within the broader context of reproductive rights.
“We would be remiss to celebrate increasing access to IVF without insisting on removing barriers to access abortion when it’s needed.”
Context in Expanding in Reproductive Services
Another critical barrier to IVF access is the shortage of clinicians and fertility specialists. Since 2023, Oracle has reported an escalating shortage of healthcare workers due to an aging population, lack of instructors, and relatively low wages in the medical field. This shortage directly impacts fertility care capacity nationwide.
The report also highlights that the healthcare sector struggles to attract new professionals, especially in specialized fields like reproductive medicine. As fertility care demand continues to grow, limited staffing and burnout among clinicians have created significant bottlenecks.
“We need more providers and more clinics in geographic areas where clinics don’t presently exist. Existing IVF clinics are overwhelmed. Increased access to care means providing the full spectrum of reproductive care in an affordable way, and being within reach for everyone that requires fertility care.” — Janene Oleaga
Rising IVF demand, limited clinic capacity, and uneven provider distribution across states have long compounded the challenges of accessing treatment. A combination of federal funding, insurance mandates, and public-private partnerships could help close these gaps, ensuring fertility care reaches more families, regardless of geography or income level.
Quotes taken from MissPoppins-The Art of Parenting
Episode 45: Fertility Access, Policy, and Real Talk w/ Janene Oleaga