Overview

• The White House has abandoned plans to require private insurers to cover IVF treatments, reversing President Trump’s campaign pledge to mandate or fund such coverage.
• Officials say federal law prevents the president from classifying IVF as an essential health benefit without Congress passing new legislation.
• A February executive order tasked the Domestic Policy Council with policy recommendations to protect IVF access and reduce costs, yet no proposals have been made public or implemented.
• Senior advisers have shifted internal discussions toward alternative fertility approaches, including restorative reproductive medicine, instead of direct IVF support.
• Analysts warn that mandating IVF under the Affordable Care Act could raise premiums for roughly 50 million marketplace enrollees, underscoring the need for congressional action.