WASHINGTON — On Thursday, President Trump announced new measures to significantly cut the expenses associated with fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization (IVF), stating that this initiative would help create “many more wonderful American children.”
As a candidate last year, Trump promised to make IVF accessible without charge through insurance requirements or government support. On Thursday, he revealed two initial steps aimed at motivating employers to provide new supplemental fertility coverage and to decrease medication costs.
“Effective immediately, we are making it legal for companies to offer specialized insurance plans specifically for fertility treatment, which has never been done before,” Trump declared in the Oval Office.
“With this signing, Americans can choose specialized coverage similar to what they have for vision and dental; fertility insurance is now available for the first time.”
He emphasized that his IVF initiatives would lead to “healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and considerably more beautiful American children.”
Additionally, Trump mentioned that EMD Serono has agreed to list its fertility drug Gonal-f on the anticipated TrumpRx website with promises of “significant discounts,” as he pressures pharmaceutical companies to lower prices for government programs and uninsured citizens, thereby circumventing hefty tariffs.
“Moreover, the FDA will collaborate with the company to speed up the review and approval process for another common IVF medication, Pergoveris, which is currently available in Europe,” Trump stated.
“Consequently, the cost of drugs for IVF treatments per cycle is projected to decrease by approximately 73% for American consumers.”
In February, Trump directed his administration to devise “policy recommendations to safeguard IVF access and significantly lower personal and health plan expenses for these treatments” as part of an executive order endorsed to promote fertility treatments.
“It is the aim of my Administration to guarantee dependable access to IVF treatment by reducing unnecessary statutory or regulatory barriers, thereby making it much more affordable,” the order articulated.
In a statement, EMD Serono stressed that its “voluntary agreement” with the Trump administration aligns with the White House executive order to broaden access to the company’s approved IVF treatments and showcases America’s leadership in family planning support.
“Thanks to our collaboration with President Trump and his administration, more families in the United States will be able to access innovative IVF solutions, fulfilling their aspirations to start or expand their families,” remarked Danny Bar-Zohar, CEO of EMD Serono’s parent company Merck KGaA.
“Gonal-f is the leading follicle-stimulating hormone prescribed in the U.S., and our extensive portfolio of IVF therapies has facilitated over 6 million successful births across the globe,” he added.
