White House proposal encourages companies to offer fertility treatment benefits

A new proposed rule from the Trump administration aims to make it easier for employers to offer coverage of fertility treatments, as part of larger efforts to expand access to fertility services including in-vitro fertilization. 

The new rule released Sunday from the Department of Labor would create a new exempted insurance benefit — in the same category as dental and vision benefit coverage— for treating infertility.

Exempted benefits don’t have to meet certain requirements under the Affordable Care Act and other federal healthcare coverage laws. 

The proposal wouldn’t require coverage but would allow companies to offer it if they choose to do so. The rule aims to increase benefit options and make IVF and other fertility treatments more affordable, though the proposed rule does not entirely eliminate costs to the recipient. 

“This will hopefully reduce the number of couples who need to resort to IVF, because challenges can be identified and addressed early in the process,” President Trump said during a maternal health event in the........

© The Hill