Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, on Sunday poured cold water on former President Donald Trump‘s new campaign promise that would require either the government or insurance companies to cover the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
IVF, a fertility treatment in which eggs are taken from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab before returning the fertilized eggs, or embryos, to the uterus, has become a contentious issue in this year’s presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Democrats have taken aim at Republicans arguing that GOP-led abortion restrictions could lead to limitations on IVF as well.
In an effort to show his support for fertility treatments, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, announced a new campaign promise on IVF during an event in Michigan on Thursday.
“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for—or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for—all costs associated with IVF treatment,” he said. “Because we want more babies, to put it nicely.”
When pressed on whether the government or insurance companies would be responsible for covering IVF services, the former president reiterated that one option would involve mandating insurance companies to pay.
“We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay,” he stated.
In a Sunday appearance on ABC News’ This Week, when asked by host Jonathan Karl if Graham, a Trump ally, wouldn’t support “mandating insurance companies to cover” the cost of IVF, the senator said he would, but added that he instead believes in a tax credit for children.
“No. No, I would, because there’s no end to that…I think a tax credit for children makes sense—means tested. Let’s look at that concept for people trying to have a child. That makes some sense to me. I would talk to Democratic colleagues who we might be able to find common ground here,” Graham said.
Newsweek has reached out to Graham’s office and Trump’s campaign via email for comment.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, is seen at the U.S. Capitol on July 31 in Washington, D.C. Graham on Sunday poured cold water on former President Donald Trump’s new campaign promise that would require either the government or insurance companies to cover the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
However, Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, pointed towards a different view stating in a Sunday interview with NBC News’ Meet The Press that most Republicans would be “open” to Trump’s proposed IVF plan after evaluating fiscal impact
“All Republicans to my knowledge support IVF in Congress and there is no state that prohibits or regulates IVF in a way that makes it inaccessible. It is expensive for many couples, I understand that. So, it’s something I’m open to that most Republicans would be open to,” Cotton said.
He added: “I think we would have to evaluate the fiscal impact whether the taxpayer can afford to pay for this, what impact it would have on premiums. But in principle, supporting couples who are trying to use IVF or other fertility treatments, I don’t think is something that’s controversial at all.”
More than 2 percent of infants born in America were conceived through assisted reproductive technology, including IVF in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
However, not everyone has insurance that covers the costly procedure, which carry a price tag of between $14,000 to $25,000 for just one cycle as infertility insurance laws vary significantly by state.
“Fertility treatment is not currently required under any federal rules, so it’s entirely up to states to decide whether they want to mandate it for state-regulated plans,” Louise Norris, health policy analyst for healthinsurance.org, previously told Newsweek. “And for self-insured plans, it’s up to the employer. Self-insured plans are not subject to state insurance rules, and they cover the majority of people with employer-sponsored health insurance.”
Meanwhile, IVF has gained renewed attention after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that embryos should be considered people, leading some clinics in the state to suspend IVF services. The ruling sparked a nationwide debate over reproductive rights and access to fertility treatments.
In recent months, Republican lawmakers have faced significant backlash over measures that critics say limit access to reproductive health care, including IVF.
After the Alabama ruling in February, Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, and declared his intention to “make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder!”
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has dismissed Trump’s concerns, stating that the former president had “appointed an openly anti-IVF judge to the federal bench and has not ruled out signing legislation that could threaten IVF access for families across the country.”
