October 2025 – White House Announces IVF Drug Discount and Employer Benefit Option
On October 16, 2025, the Trump administration unveiled its first major follow-up to the February executive order on reducing IVF costs. Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump announced three primary initiatives aimed at expanding access to fertility care:
- A new agreement with drug manufacturer EMD Serono will reduce the out-of-pocket cost of common IVF medications. Patients who use EMD Serono’s Gonal-f®, Ovidrel®, and Cetrotide® together in a typical IVF cycle will receive an 84% discount off list prices. These medications will be available starting January 2026 via a new government-run direct purchasing platform, TrumpRx.gov.
- EMD Serono also announced it has submitted Pergoveris®, a combination fertility therapy already available in over 70 countries, for expedited FDA review through the National Priority Voucher program. If approved, Pergoveris would offer another option for patients with more complex fertility needs.
- New federal guidance from the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and HHS will allow employers to offer fertility benefits — such as IVF coverage — separately from major medical insurance, similar to how dental or vision benefits are handled. While participation is voluntary, the administration says this option may help smaller businesses offer fertility benefits to employees.
As with earlier steps in this process, The Prelude Network® will continue to follow these developments and keep patients informed as the landscape of fertility care evolves.
February 2025 – Executive Order & Policy Review
In February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The order directs the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to provide Trump with a list of policy recommendations aimed at protecting IVF access and lowering out-of-pocket expenses and health plan costs.
It is encouraging to see national support for IVF, as 1 in 6 couples in the U.S. face fertility challenges. However, it’s important to note that this executive order does not guarantee that a policy will be implemented immediately. The recommendations for IVF-related policies are still in development.
Because these recommendations are still under review, it’s uncertain how — or if — they will ultimately be implemented, and any changes could take months or even years to take effect. For those hoping to build a family, timing is critical. Beginning treatment now ensures you don’t put your plans on hold while waiting for outcomes that remain unclear.
We run through the timeline of what’s happened since the Executive Order below – and will keep this updated as the situation evolves.
March 2025 – Public Statements by President Trump
On March 26, during a Women’s History Month event at the White House, President Trump announced the formation of the Republican Women’s Caucus in Congress. While this announcement was separate from his IVF-related executive order, it reflects ongoing attention to reproductive issues in the political sphere.
March 2025 – Inception Meets with White House Staff
On March 27, 2025, the Fertility Providers Alliance (FPA) met with White House staff. The meeting focused on essential IVF policies and how they’d significantly impact families across the nation. Some policies presented include:
- Requiring IVF treatment and services to be part of each state’s Medicaid coverage
- Including fertility treatment and preservation services as Essential Health Benefits (EHB) for ACA plans
- Creating a health workforce grant to increase the number of reproductive endocrinologists and embryologists
- Expanding VA Health and TRICARE to include fertility preservation and infertility services for non-service-related injuries
April 2025 – Policy Recommendations Pending
The executive order directed the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to submit policy recommendations within 90 days to protect IVF access and reduce associated costs. As of today, these recommendations are anticipated but have not yet been publicly released.
August 2025 – Alternative Approaches Discussed: Restorative Reproductive Medicine
The administration also explored restorative reproductive medicine (RRM), an approach promoted by some conservative policy groups.
This method emphasizes addressing underlying health factors that affect fertility through monitoring ovulation and other biological markers, diagnosing and treating conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis, recommending lifestyle or dietary changes (including vitamins and supplements), and using certain medications or surgery.
Critics, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), point out that while fertility awareness and lifestyle changes can and should play a supportive role alongside standard fertility treatments, many fertility patients already try these methods before ultimately needing medical treatment. RRM also does not fully address the diverse paths to parenthood, particularly in cases involving male infertility, LGBTQ+ family building, or single parenthood by choice.
What This Means for IVF Patients
Time is of the essence when it comes to fertility care. While it’s encouraging to see national efforts to expand access to IVF and make drug prices more affordable, it’s important to remember that policy proposals can take months — or even years — to take effect. If you’re ready to grow your family, don’t wait for legislation to begin your journey.
Meeting with a fertility specialist is the best way to take control of your timeline. Many patients are able to conceive with early fertility guidance and never need IVF. For those who do, The Prelude Network® offers flexible financing options to help ease the cost of care and make treatment more accessible.
The Prelude Network® partners with leading reproductive endocrinologists (REIs) across the country who can help you understand your options and take the next step with confidence.