Former President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration plans to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment more accessible to Americans by funding it and mandating insurance companies to cover it.

“Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment,” Trump told NBC News ahead of a campaign rally in Potterville, Michigan.

He added that the coverage would be for “all Americans who need it.”

“So, we’re going to be paying for that treatment, or we’re going to be mandating that the insurance companies pay,” he said.

Trump said that he “was always for IVF.”

“It’s fertilization and it’s helping women and men and families,” he said. “But it’s helping women able to have a baby. Some have great difficulty. And a lot of them have been very happy with the results [of IVF].”

“We’re doing this because we just think it’s great,” he added. “And we need great children, beautiful children, in our country. We actually need them.”

IVF became a political issue this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that human embryos and fertilized eggs kept outside the uterus are children under state law—and are thus covered under wrongful death laws should anyone destroy them.

Clinics halted their IVF treatments in the state in the wake of the ruling. Alabama lawmakers moved quickly to pass legislation to shield IVF doctors from lawsuits over damaged or destroyed embryos, which satisfied some clinics enough to allow services to resume.

IVF & Reproductive Rights in the Political Arena

Responding to the pledge, the Harris-Walz campaign blamed Trump for the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which they said means that IVF has come under attack across the country.

“Donald Trump’s own platform could effectively ban IVF and abortion nationwide,” Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a statement to media outlets. 

Democrats have made reproductive issues, including IVF and abortion, a key part of their platform during this election cycle. U.S. Senate Democratic lawmakers tried to legislate IVF as a statutory right federally in June, but it was blocked by Republicans.

Trump Doubles Down on Roe v. Wade Overturning

In the same interview on Thursday, Trump, who appointed three of the five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade., took credit for their decision.

“Our country has been torn apart by Roe v. Wade for years. For years,” Trump said.

The high court’s decision ended the nationwide right to abortion and returned the power to make laws on it to the states.

“If you go back 10 years, 15 years, all they wanted to do is they wanted it back in the states,” he said. “They didn’t want it to be in the federal government. I was able to do that.”

Impact of Trump’s Policy on the IVF Landscape

Trump's proposed policy is a significant departure from his past stance on IVF, which has historically been viewed as a complex issue with varying perspectives. The policy has already sparked reactions from both supporters and critics, highlighting the potential ramifications of his proposal on the IVF landscape.

Some proponents argue that Trump's commitment to making IVF more accessible could address the financial barriers that many couples face when seeking this treatment. They believe that government funding and insurance coverage could significantly increase the affordability of IVF, making it a viable option for a broader range of individuals.

However, others express concerns about the potential impact of Trump's policy on the ethical and legal complexities surrounding IVF. Some critics worry that government intervention could lead to unintended consequences, such as restrictions on IVF practices, increased scrutiny of embryos, and potential for governmental control over reproductive decision-making.

A Complicated Issue with Broader Implications

It remains unclear how Trump's proposal will be implemented or how it will navigate the existing legal and ethical frameworks surrounding IVF. The issue is intricately linked to the ongoing debate about reproductive rights and the role of government in healthcare. As the election cycle progresses, the policy is likely to attract further scrutiny and analysis.

Potential Consequences of Trump's IVF Proposal

The potential consequences of Trump's proposal are multifaceted and extend beyond the immediate implications for IVF access. The policy could influence:

• The Future of Reproductive Rights: Trump's proposal may further fuel the ongoing debate about reproductive rights, with implications for access to other reproductive healthcare services, such as abortion and contraception.

• Government Intervention in Healthcare: The policy could set a precedent for government involvement in healthcare decision-making, with broader implications for access to other medical treatments and procedures.

• The Role of Insurance Companies: The mandate requiring insurance companies to cover IVF could raise questions about the role of private insurance in healthcare, potentially leading to changes in insurance policies and premiums.

• Ethical and Legal Considerations: Trump's proposal might trigger new ethical and legal challenges related to IVF, such as the status of embryos, the rights of individuals seeking IVF treatment, and potential conflicts of interest involving government funding.

The debate surrounding Trump's IVF proposal is likely to intensify as the election approaches, with both sides presenting their arguments and perspectives on the implications of this policy. It remains to be seen how this proposal will ultimately shape the landscape of reproductive rights and healthcare in the United States.