What the White House’s Latest IVF Announcement Really Means for Intended Parents

This week, the White House unveiled a series of initiatives to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) more affordable and accessible for families across the United States. For those navigating the high costs of fertility treatment, this could mark one of the most significant federal interventions in reproductive healthcare to date.

Under a new partnership with EMD Serono, prices for key IVF medications, like Gonal-F, which can cost upwards of $1,300 per vial, could drop as much as 73% per cycle. The agreement introduces the“Most-Favored-Nation” model aimed at aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest prices available in comparable countries. At the same time, new federal rules will allow employers to offer standalone fertility benefits, similar to how dental or vision coverage is provided.

This couldn’t come at a more important time. The latest SART data shows that total IVF cycles continue to rise, having increased by 6% in 2022 and by more than 10% in 2023. Donor egg IVF is also growing, influenced by factors like growing medical need, increases in LGBTQ+ family building, and the rising age of parenthood. Nearly 12% of IVF cycles involve donor eggs, with that percentage increasing among older age groups — driven in part by donor egg IVF’s impressive 52% national success rate, the highest of any fertility treatment. Meanwhile, the WHO reports that infertility now affects 1 in 6 adults worldwide, up from the previous estimate of 1 in 8. Taken together, these trends make one thing clear: the need for accessible, affordable fertility care has never been greater.

What this means for intended parents today

The price reductions apply to three key medications — Gonal-F, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide — which are widely used together as part of a standard IVF or egg-freezing protocol. Gonal-F contains recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which mimics the body’s natural FSH to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. In a typical IVF cycle, it helps develop several mature follicles, each potentially containing an egg, thereby increasing the number available for retrieval and improving the chances of pregnancy. Ovidrel is then used to trigger ovulation, while Cetrotide prevents premature ovulation during the stimulation phase.

According to EMD Serono, patients will receive an 84% discount off list prices when all three medications are used in tandem as part of a typical IVF or egg-freezing protocol, a change that could substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs for intended parents and egg freezers alike.

While the announcement is encouraging, it’s important to note that many of these measures will take time to roll out. Policymakers caution that agreements with EMD Serono must move through regulatory and contracting steps before patients see lower prices at the pharmacy counter, with the medications expected to become available in early 2026 through the TrumpRX program. Likewise, employers will need time to design and implement the new benefit offerings. There are plenty of open questions, too — will these benefits be pre-tax? And what’s been stopping employers from doing this already?

In the near term, families may not feel an immediate impact, but over the coming months and years, the impact could be significant. Lower medication costs may ease some of the financial burden of IVF, and expanded benefit options could move the needle toward making fertility coverage a more standard part of employer benefits, but meaningful change will take time.

What these policies could signal for the future of IVF and fertility care

Fertility care is expensive. Medication costs alone can add thousands of dollars per IVF cycle, and insurance coverage is inconsistent. Administration officials said the new price cuts could save families an estimated $2,200 per cycle. While these measures are still unfolding, they represent meaningful momentum toward broader access and affordability and signal a growing recognition at the federal level that building a family through assisted reproduction deserves the same policy priority as any other aspect of healthcare.

As with any policy change, the success of these programs will depend on how they are implemented—and who they ultimately reach. But for now, this moment represents meaningful progress toward a future where fertility care is more affordable, accessible, and equitable.

How Cofertility can support intended parents

At Cofertility, we know that navigating fertility care can feel overwhelming. Costs, coverage gaps, and uncertainty about whether political promises will lead to real change leave many intended parents unsure of where to turn for trusted information and support.

Our mission has always been to make family building more accessible. Through our unique egg sharing model, women can freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to intended parents. At the same time, intended parents benefit from an approach to egg donation that is collaborative, mutually beneficial, and doesn’t involve cash compensation. 

Beyond our programs themselves, our team is dedicated to helping intended parents like you make informed decisions about your family-building journey. As these new policies take shape, if you have any questions, our team is here to help. In the meantime, as we wait hopefully for policy to turn into progress, we’ll keep advocating for fertility care that’s more inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all.

Fast facts on the latest White House announcement regarding IVF prices:

• Under the new agreement, EMD Serono will offer Gonal-F, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide at a discount when used together in a typical IVF/egg-freezing protocol.
• Administration officials project the price cuts could save families ~ $2,200 per IVF cycle.
• The discounted medications are expected to be available via TrumpRX, launching in early 2026.
• Implementation will take time, with key details still being finalized as the agreement moves through regulatory and contracting steps before patients see lower prices at the pharmacy counter.