A sweeping new federal bill introduced in July 2026 aims to guarantee access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies nationwide, while expanding insurance coverage and lowering treatment costs for families struggling with infertility. The Right to IVF Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) on July 23, has already garnered support from 119 House members and 46 Senators, along with major medical organizations including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association.

Why Is IVF Access Such a Critical Health Issue?

Infertility is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), yet it remains vastly undertreated in the United States. According to reproductive health experts, one in six people will experience infertility in their lifetime, yet less than one quarter of those cases receive treatment, particularly IVF. The barriers are especially acute for rural Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ communities, who often depend on IVF to have genetically related children.

"The disease causes profound medical, psychological, social, and economic harm. It's truly an existential crisis, yet it's a disease that we have treated inadequately in the United States throughout history," said Dr. Ginny Ryan, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist at Fred Hutch at University of Washington Medical Center.

Dr. Ginny Ryan, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist at Fred Hutch at University of Washington Medical Center

The primary obstacle is cost. IVF cycles can be prohibitively expensive, and many insurance plans either do not cover the treatment or provide only limited coverage. For some patients, a single IVF cycle can cost as much as one fifth of an annual salary, making family building financially impossible without significant resources.

What Would the Right to IVF Act Actually Do?

The legislation establishes a nationwide statutory right to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, with three main components designed to remove barriers to treatment. The bill addresses cost, coverage gaps, and the specific needs of underserved populations, including military families.

• Insurance Coverage Expansion: The bill mandates broader insurance coverage for IVF and fertility services, ensuring that more Americans have access to treatment without bearing the full financial burden themselves.
• Veteran and Servicemember Benefits: The legislation includes the Veteran Families Health Services Act, which ensures that fertility treatments are covered in health benefits provided to U.S. servicemembers and veterans, addressing a significant gap in military healthcare.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing Coverage: The bill includes coverage for PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing), a laboratory procedure used in IVF to screen embryos for genetic or chromosomal problems before transfer into the uterus.

Rep. Larsen emphasized the human stakes during a roundtable discussion with fertility doctors at the Snohomish County Health Department on July 27. "Nobody should be forced to choose between serving their country or starting a family," he stated, noting that his district represents approximately 50,000 veterans, about 8.1% of the district's population, many of whom have raised fertility access as a top concern.

Larsen

How Can Policymakers Better Support Fertility Treatment Access?

Fertility specialists who met with Rep. Larsen offered specific recommendations for strengthening the legislation and ensuring it meets the needs of patients in the modern era of reproductive medicine.

• Future-Proof Technology Coverage: Fertility doctors stressed that insurance mandates must account for emerging technologies and evolving treatment approaches, not just current standard practices, since the field of reproductive medicine has transformed dramatically since IVF's inception in 1978.
• Comprehensive Cycle Coverage: Rather than limiting patients to a single IVF cycle, comprehensive mandates covering at least three or four cycles would significantly improve outcomes and reduce the rate of multiple births, which has declined from higher rates in the 1990s to approximately 7% today.
• Address Political Barriers: Advocates noted that recent criticisms of IVF represent part of a broader effort to restrict reproductive autonomy, particularly targeting LGBTQ communities and people of color, making legislative protection essential.

"For many Americans, fertility treatments like IVF are essential to start families of their own. This comprehensive legislation will guarantee access and expand coverage for IVF and other fertility services," said Congressman Larsen.

Congressman Rick Larsen, U.S. Representative (WA-02)

The roundtable included perspectives from multiple fertility specialists, including Dr. Mike Opsahl, Medical Director and Owner of Poma Fertility, and Dr. Lynn Davis, Partner Physician at Seattle Reproductive Medicine, who emphasized that they encounter patients suffering from infertility every day and that access barriers prevent many from receiving necessary care.

The Right to IVF Act represents a significant legislative effort to address what fertility experts describe as a public health crisis of inadequate treatment for a recognized disease. With broad support from medical organizations and growing bipartisan interest in reproductive health policy, the bill signals a potential shift toward making fertility treatment a standard part of healthcare access rather than a luxury available only to those who can afford it out of pocket.