The referendum has no legal bearing, but it signals widespread support for IVF coverage to state lawmakers — the referendum won 72% to 27% on Nov. 5.
Illinois currently requires large group plans to cover fertility treatments, but not individual plans without a copay, per the Chicago Sun-Times. The state’s Medicaid program also does not cover IVF.
In August, President-elect Donald Trump said the government and private insurers should be required to cover all costs associated with IVF treatments.
“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,” he said at the time.
According to HHS, a single cycle of IVF can cost $15,000 to $20,000, with the average number of cycles needed to become pregnant from IVF being 2.5. The procedure accounts for nearly all assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures performed in the U.S. In 2021, 86,146 infants born (2.3% of all U.S. infants) were conceived through ART.
In 29 states, private insurers are not required to cover any fertility services, while 15 states have IVF coverage mandates. These state mandates do not apply to self-insured employers, which cover the majority of employees. Medicaid coverage is optional for states and varies from state to state.
