The New York Law will cover fertility treatment, including IVF, for up to 2.4 million

With more young women and men delaying parenthood, the demand for fertility treatments such as egg freezing and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has grown across the country.

Legislation and science have lagged behind the trend, and the cost of the treatments can be prohibitively expensive.

A new law, enacted in the 2020 state budget, mandates that certain large-group insurance plans cover IVF, and requires all private insurance companies to cover medically necessary egg freezing.

It is projected to benefit to up to 2.4 million New Yorkers, according to figures from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, but there are kinks to iron out before it guarantees coverage to the other half of insured New Yorkers, including gay men, Medicaid-recipients, and the self-employed.

Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, the first woman to hold that position, pushed for IVF legislation in the spending plan, citing it as a top priority for the two-year-old Council for Women and Girls.

DeRosa, 36, said that she understands the anxiety of women in her age group who are pressured to decide between advancing their careers and starting a family.

There is nothing more personal or life altering than the ability to conceive and making the choice about when to conceive,” DeRosa said. “As someone who is currently facing these life-altering decisions, I know firsthand the toll they take — emotionally and financially.”

TimesUnion.com by Rachel Silberstein, April 1, 2019

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