Sen. Tom Cotton and other Republicans have expressed openness to supporting former President Donald Trump’s proposal to have the government or insurance companies pay for in vitro fertilization (IVF) services. Cotton said he would need to evaluate the fiscal impact and consider whether taxpayers can afford to fund this. Trump had previously mentioned mandating insurance companies to cover fertility services like IVF if he is elected.
However, Cotton voted against the Right to IVF Act earlier this year, which would have mandated IVF coverage in federal health care plans. He criticized the bill as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s messaging tactic. Despite his vote, Sen. Lindsey Graham said the GOP is not against IVF treatments and would support means-tested tax credits for Americans using fertility treatments.
Fertility treatments have become a political issue, with Democrats accusing Republicans of threatening access to reproductive care. Fertility clinics in Alabama paused IVF services after a state Supreme Court ruling that embryos are people, raising concerns about the impact of abortion bans on other reproductive care services.
While some Republicans, including Graham, support tax credits for fertility treatments, they are hesitant about mandating insurance companies to cover IVF, citing concerns about the potential limitless costs. Trump’s proposal to force insurance coverage for IVF treatments is seen as an attempt to show support for IVF, despite limited Republican backing for such measures.
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