Summary October 17, 2025
OpenAI sparks debate over AI-human affinity, Trump unveils plan to expand access to 'fertility insurance', IVF drugs and more
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a pair of initiatives aimed at making in vitro fertilization more accessible and accessible, marking his administration's biggest move yet on an issue that has divided conservatives and was a key focus of last year's campaign on women and families.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said his administration would encourage employers to offer fertility benefits directly to their employees (similar to dental or vision insurance) and unveiled a new agreement with EMD Serono, maker of Gonal-F, one of the most widely used fertility drugs in the United States. The company, he said, has agreed to provide “huge discounts” on its fertility drugs through the government's TrumpRx.gov website starting next year.
“Through the actions I will outline this afternoon, we will significantly reduce the cost of IVF and many of the most common fertility drugs for countless millions of Americans,” Trump said. “Prices are falling, falling hard, falling hard.” He called the announcement “a historic victory for American women, mothers and families.”
The administration said new Labor Department guidance will make it easier for companies, including small businesses, to add fertility insurance as an additional benefit without overhauling their primary health insurance plans. The White House does not require participation and will not subsidize employers who choose to offer such coverage.
“With what we signed, Americans will be able to choose specialty coverage, just as they get vision and dental coverage, they will be able to get fertility coverage for the first time,” Trump said. He said fertility insurance would “reduce the number of people who end up having to resort to IVF because couples will be able to identify and address problems early.”
“The result will be healthier pregnancies, healthier babies and a lot more beautiful American children,” Trump added.
Only about one of four Large employers now provide coverage for in vitro fertilization, and very few states require insurers to cover fertility treatments, according to a report by nonprofit research organization KFF. Although some insurance plans already include such benefits, most patients pay out of pocket for the procedures, which can cost between $15,000 and $25,000 per cycle, often requiring multiple steps.
Trump said the new drug pricing agreement would reduce the cost of Gonal-F and other fertility drugs by as much as 73%. EMD Serono said in statement that “eligible patients” will be able to purchase fertility drugs at an 84% discount from list prices.
However, it remains unclear how much lower drug prices will reduce the overall cost of IVF, since drugs are only one component of the procedure. Patients must also pay for ultrasounds, anesthesia, lab work and embryo storage—costs that can add up to more than $20,000 per round.
The announcement represents a partial fulfillment of a campaign promise Trump made in 2024, when he said his administration would ensure all Americans have access to fertility treatments. “Under the Trump administration, we will pay for this treatment,” he said in a statement. Interview in August 2024 from NBC News. “We're going to force the insurance company to pay.”
Trump has repeatedly emphasized infertility as a family issue, casting his approach as a way to build and expand American families. The issue took on new urgency for Republicans last year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos produced through IVF should be considered children, a decision that prompted some clinics to suspend operations and forced GOP leaders to clarify their position. Trump quickly distanced himself from the decision and called on Alabama lawmakers to protect access to IVF.
Infertility affects approximately every sixth woman reproductive age, according to the World Health Organization, IVF accounts for about 2% of all births in the United States.
While Trump's announcement drew praise from some birth advocates, others noted that the plan relies heavily on voluntary employer participation and does not guarantee coverage for those who need it most. Critics also doubt that the discounts the administration has negotiated will significantly reduce costs for middle-income families who still have to pay out of pocket for other parts of treatment.
