JD Vance Faces Tough Questions Over The Sky-High Costs Of Trump's Controversial New IVF Plan

Sen. JD Vance, the Republican running mate of former President Donald Trump, went through an intense grilling as he seemed to fumble over providing clear answers on the method of funding Trump’s new in vitro fertilization plan. The plan, recently outlined by Trump, called for full coverage of IVF treatments by the government or private insurers- a move that has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.

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In an interview with CNN’s John Berman, Vance was pressed for details: “Is this an expansion of Obamacare? Is this a mandate?”

"Well, look, I think you have insurance companies that are forced to cover a whole host of services," Vance replied, offering little specifics. He added that Trump's proposal is aimed at making fertility treatments more accessible but quickly shifted blame to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, accusing her of driving up consumer costs in general.

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Trump first announced the plan at a campaign event in Michigan. "I'm announcing today that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for – or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for – all costs associated with IVF treatment," Trump declared. He later told NBC News his administration would be “paying for that treatment” while insisting, “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”

IVF, a widely used procedure for assisting reproduction, is known for its hefty price tag. Typically, one cycle costs between $15,000 and over $30,000. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that an average of 2.5 cycles may be required for a successful pregnancy.

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology estimates that 390,000 IVF cycles were performed in 2022, a 6% increase over the previous year. At an average initial cost of $20,000 per cycle, Trump’s plan could place a tab on taxpayers or insurers of nearly $8 billion annually.

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Experts estimate that demand could significantly rise if IVF were made available without out-of-pocket costs, as some preventive health services are under the Affordable Care Act. That raises the question of how such a plan would be financially sustainable.

It would appear that this IVF proposal of Trump’s has been part of the effort to reach out to those voters who express concern about women’s reproductive rights. That has been one of the hottest topics in the country since 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and made abortion entirely within the state’s purview.

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Since the Dobbs decision, 22 states have implemented stringent bans or restrictions on abortions, often beyond the regulation that existed under Roe. Trump has taken credit for the ruling after he appointed three conservative justices who voted to overturn Roe. However, he has also tried to distance himself from the more extreme measures some states took in the aftermath of the ruling.

Trump tried to soften his stand, but his Democratic challenger, Kamala Harris, in turn, warned voters that a second Trump term would lead to a national ban on abortion. The IVF issue turned even more contentious several months ago when a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court led fertility clinics to halt services for fear of legal repercussions – a development Democrats quickly tied to Trump and the Dobbs decision.

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