Trump executive order aims to make IVF more affordable, White House says

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X Tuesday.

"The Order directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments," Leavitt wrote.

What the executive order says

Big picture view:

The executive order calls for policy recommendations aimed at lowering IVF costs and reducing barriers to access. It directs the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to submit a list of recommendations within 90 days on how to make IVF treatments more affordable.

"My Administration recognizes the importance of family formation, and as a Nation, our public policy must make it easier for loving and longing mothers and fathers to have children," Trump wrote in the order. 

Key points from the order:

• Policy recommendations: Within 90 days, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy must submit recommendations to protect IVF access and lower costs.
• Regulatory limits: The order does not override existing laws or agency authority, including the Office of Management and Budget.
• Funding dependent: Implementation is subject to available appropriations, meaning Congress may need to approve funding.
• No new legal rights: The order does not create any enforceable rights or benefits for individuals.

The order also does not yet outline specific financial commitments, mandates for insurance companies, or direct funding mechanisms for IVF coverage.

Trump’s stance on IVF

The backstory:

Trump has voiced support for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), stating that he wants to make the procedure free for women, though he has not provided details on how the government would fund it.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Trump calls for free IVF treatments with no plan on how it would work 

Trump first publicly backed IVF in February 2024 after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling classified frozen embryos as children, which temporarily halted IVF treatments in the state and sparked national debate.

US President Donald Trump speaks during signing of executive orders at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 18, 2025. ((Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

In June, Senate Republicans blocked legislation that would have made IVF a nationwide right and required insurance companies to cover fertility treatments.

Trump has since reiterated his support for expanding access to IVF but has not detailed specific plans to mandate insurance coverage or implement government funding.

The Cost of IVF Treatments

By the numbers:

The financial burden of IVF remains a significant challenge for many hopeful parents, with treatments averaging around $20,000 per cycle in the U.S., according to a 2024 NerdWallet report. However, costs can vary significantly based on location, insurance coverage, and additional medical needs.

How much does IVF cost?

• The average cost per cycle is around $20,000, but this does not guarantee a successful pregnancy.
• In states where insurance does not cover IVF, individuals can end up paying over $40,000 out of pocket, as some patients in Georgia and Michigan told FOX TV Stations.
• Additional expenses include medications, genetic testing, and embryo storage, which can add thousands more to the overall cost.

IVF success rates by age

According to The International Fertility Group, the likelihood of IVF success decreases with age:

• Under 35 years old: 55.6% success rate
• Ages 36-37: 40.8% success rate
• Ages 38-40: 26.8% success rate
• Over 40: 7% success rate

Is IVF covered by insurance?

• Only 14 states currently require insurance providers to cover IVF treatment.
• In many states, insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments, leaving families to pay the full cost.
• Some families seek grants or scholarships to help offset IVF expenses.

What's next:

As Trump’s executive order seeks to make IVF more affordable, the full details of how these costs will be reduced remain unclear.