Trump Announces Plan to Address IVF Costs, Faces Division Within His Base
Donald Trump recently announced a proposal aimed at improving access to In-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, focusing on lowering prescription drug costs. The plan, unveiled by the Trump governance, would allow patients to purchase certain necessary prescription drugs directly from manufacturers at discounted rates through a new website, TrumpRx, slated to launch in early 2026.
IVF treatment is a meaningful financial burden for many, with a typical round costing tens of thousands of dollars, and frequently enough requiring multiple cycles to achieve a viable pregnancy. Prescription drugs alone can add thousands of dollars to the expense.
however, Trump’s efforts have revealed a rift within his political base.While aiming to ease financial barriers, he faces opposition from some Christian conservatives who object to IVF due to its potential for discarding human embryos. When questioned about the issue on October 16th, Trump stated, “I think this is very pro-life,” adding, “You can’t get more pro-life than this.”
Currently, approximately 25% of US employers with 200 or more workers offer health plans that include some IVF coverage. Several states also mandate that private insurers cover IVF services, and some extend similar benefits through medicaid for low-income individuals.
TJ Farnsworth, head of Inception Fertility, a providers alliance, welcomed the White House initiative but cautioned against expecting immediate results. “I just think it’s really important that people realize that this is an amazing start to the conversation, but it’s not likely to have an immediate impact to patients,” he told AFP.
