Illinois state lawmakers aim to improve access to fertility treatment

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) - Three Democratic state senators unveiled bills Wednesday with the goal of increasing insurance coverage for treatments.

The goal is to make treatments, like in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation, more accessible.

One bill, sponsored by state Sen. Natalie Toro, D-Chicago, would mandate insurance companies cover standard treatments for everyone in Illinois. Right now, they’re only required to cover these treatments when its deemed medically necessary.

“I’ve had heavy conversations expressing our dreams of having a family while facing financial barriers that limit our ability to preserve our fertility,” Toro said. “My friends and loved ones have had to decide between paying off their student loans or even going into debt to afford fertility preservation treatments.”

She said those treatments can cost around $15,000 if not covered by insurance.

Another bill, sponsored by state Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, would require employees with more than 25 employees provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in women. It would also require coverage for injectable medicines to treat prediabetes, gestational diabetes and obesity.

A third bill, sponsored by state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, would mandate insurance companies cover specific fertility treatments if they’re recommended by the patient’s doctor.

“Who is an insurance company to tell a middle-aged woman who wants to have a child that she can’t go directly to the treatment,” he said. “They should listen to the doctor.”

Castro said she hopes the discussion around all three bills will help destigmatize fertility treatments.

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ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS UNVEIL A PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT MAKING FERTILITY TREATMENTS MORE ACCESSIBLE.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATORS UNVEILED THREE BILLS TODAY WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TREATMENTS.

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ONE WOULD REQUIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER STANDARD TREATMENTS FOR EVERYONE IN ILLINOIS.

RIGHT NOW... THEY’RE ONLY MANDATED TO COVER THEM WHEN DEEMED MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS WITH MORE THAN 25 EMPLOYEES PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF INFERTILITY IN WOMEN... AS WELL AS COVERAGE FOR INJECTABLE MEDICINES TO TREAT PRE-DIABETES, DIABETES OR OBESITY.

A THIRD BILL WOULD MANDATE INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER SPECIFIC FERTILITY TREATMENTS IF THEY’RE RECOMMENDED THE PATIENT’S DOCTOR.

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{Sen. Natalie Toro/ (D) Illinois 20th District}

< “I’ve had heavy conversations expressing our dreams of having a family while facing financial barriers that limit our ability to preserve our fertility. My friends and loved ones have had to decide between paying off their student loans or even going into debt to afford fertility preservation treatments.”>

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TORO SAYS THOSE TREATMENTS CAN COST UPWARDS OF 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

LAWMAKERS ALSO SAY THEY HOPE THESE HELP DESTIGMITZE SEEKING FERTILITY TREATMENTS.

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