Trump says cost of IVF drugs will decrease “dramatically” thanks to price negotiations
Washington — President Trump said the cost of in vitro fertilization drugs would drop “dramatically” as his administration negotiated lower prices for a costly component of the IVF cycle.
IVF cycles can cost $25,000 or more, as Mr. Trump has said, and many couples need multiple cycles. Most employers do not offer fertility insurance coverage.
“As a result of these actions, the cost per cycle of IVF medications will decrease by approximately 73 percent for American consumers, and the numbers will actually increase significantly over time when this actually takes effect,” Trump announced in the Oval Office.
“One of the main reasons for these high prices is the excessive cost of the drugs involved,” Mr. Trump said. “The number one fertility drug used in IVF is currently 700% more expensive in the United States than in the rest of the world.”
The president said biopharmaceutical company EMD Serono had agreed to give “massive discounts” on all fertility drugs it sells in the United States, including Gonal-f, a key drug in the injection protocol required for egg stimulation. EMD Serono said in a statement that patients will be able to purchase its fertility drugs directly at an 84% discount from list prices.
“We are here today to announce a historic victory for American women, mothers and families,” Mr. Trump said. “Through the actions I will outline this afternoon, we will significantly reduce the cost of IVF, treatment and many of the most common fertility drugs for millions of Americans.”
The president also said his administration is working to make it easier for companies to offer supplemental fertility insurance coverage. Some companies already offer additional fertility coverage.
Although important, the president’s decision is far from living up to his pledge in August 2024 for IVF to be fully covered either by insurance or the federal government. Mr. Trump signed an executive order in February directing the White House to examine ways to expand access to IVF, although recommendations from those efforts were never released.
It is not yet clear to what extent lower drug costs will reduce the overall cost of an IVF cycle. Women require varying volumes of stimulation medications.
Cutting drug prices by more than half does not mean the cost of an IVF cycle will decrease that much. Medication is an expensive part of the procedure, but the cost also includes ultrasound scans, anesthesia, and other fees. Each cycle costs between $12,000 and $25,000, and many couples undergo multiple cycles. Very few states require insurance companies to cover treatment, so the vast majority of women and couples must pay out of pocket for IVF cycles. For couples who choose to store frozen embryos, there are also monthly or annual storage fees, which can cost more than $1,000 per year.
During the campaign, the president called himself the “father of IVF” and a “leader in fertilization, IVF.”
“Under the Trump administration, we’re going to pay for this treatment,” then-candidate Mr. Trump said in August 2024. He added: “We’re going to pay for this treatment, or we’re going to require the insurance company to pay.”
