President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled new measures aimed at lowering the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and expanding access to fertility treatments across the United States — his administration’s most significant move yet on an issue that has become increasingly important to families and women voters.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump announced two key initiatives: a push for employers to offer fertility benefits directly to their workers, and a pricing agreement with pharmaceutical company EMD Serono, the maker of Gonal-F, one of the country’s most widely used fertility drugs. Under the new agreement, the company will offer steep discounts on fertility medications through a government website, TrumpRx.gov, beginning next year.
“With the actions I will outline this afternoon, we’ll dramatically slash the cost of IVF and many of the most common fertility drugs for countless millions of Americans,” Trump said. “Prices are going way down—way, way down.” He called the move a “historic victory for American women, mothers, and families.”
The Labor Department has issued guidance making it easier for companies, including small businesses, to add fertility coverage as a supplemental benefit, similar to dental or vision plans. The administration is not mandating employer participation or offering government subsidies but hopes the change will encourage broader adoption.
“Americans will now be able to opt in to specialized coverage,” Trump said. “Just as they get vision or dental insurance, they can get fertility insurance for the first time.” He added that expanding fertility coverage could help couples identify health issues earlier, leading to “healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and many more beautiful American children.”
According to the nonprofit research group KFF, only about one in four large U.S. employers currently provide IVF coverage, and most states do not require insurers to cover fertility treatments. The procedures can cost between $15,000 and $25,000 per cycle, often requiring multiple rounds.
EMD Serono said eligible patients will receive up to an 84% discount on its fertility drugs, while the administration estimated the cost of Gonal-F and similar medications could fall by as much as 73%. However, experts cautioned that drugs account for only a portion of total IVF expenses, which also include testing, ultrasounds, anesthesia, and embryo storage—costs that can push a single round above $20,000.
Trump’s announcement follows a 2024 campaign promise to make fertility treatments more accessible. The issue gained political urgency last year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through IVF should be considered children—a decision that temporarily halted some fertility clinics and divided conservatives. Trump later urged Alabama lawmakers to protect IVF access.
Infertility affects about one in six women of reproductive age, according to the World Health Organization, and IVF accounts for roughly 2% of U.S. births. While fertility advocates welcomed the administration’s focus on affordability, critics warned that without mandatory coverage or subsidies, many families may still struggle to afford treatment.