IVF treatment cost unacceptable. I am working on law to change that.
U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Columbus, serves Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. His Democratic challenger in the November election will be either State Rep. Adam Miller or community activist Zerqa Abid.
I ran for Congress because I wanted to ensure that hardworking Ohioans had ample opportunities to make a good living and comfortably raise a family. As such, I’ve had a simple litmus test for legislation in Washington: is it pro-jobs and pro-family?
That’s why I’ve supported bipartisan bills to invest in semiconductor manufacturing, cut taxes, make our streets safer, expand affordable housing, and lower health care costs.
It’s also why I’m now working on legislation to protect in-vitro fertilization after the procedure was put at risk by the recent state Supreme Court ruling in Alabama.
IVF protection is pro-family
I’m doing this because there is nothing more pro-family than ensuring that hardworking couples can access IVF to make their dreams of having children come true. I hope this will be bipartisan, as evidenced by the fact that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have called for protecting IVF in recent days.
IVF’s across-the-aisle popularity stems from its success.
More than 55% of women younger than 35 throughout the U.S. can become pregnant using IVF after just one egg retrieval. And the procedure continues to be a lifeline for couples wanting to have children.
Across America every year, 26% of married women, who have not had a child previously, struggle to conceive. During such difficult moments, 4 out of 10 Americans have turned to IVF to experience the blessing of having children.
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We all know friends, family members, or loved ones who turned to IVF after struggling to conceive. I’ve witnessed firsthand the joy provided to my loved ones after IVF helped them complete their families.
IVF treatment should be more affordable
And that’s why I want Congress to protect IVF. But protecting IVF is not enough, we must also ensure that the high cost of IVF does not put the procedure out of reach for working-class and middle-class families.
Everyone knows that having and raising a child costs more than ever, especially as America faces the effects of the supply chain crisis and stubborn inflation. Couples pursuing IVF, however, face even larger financial difficulties.
A single IVF cycle can cost on average between $15,000 to $30,000, depending on the fertility center and an individual's medical history. Of that sum, medication accounts for nearly 35%, with some injectable hormones alone ranging upwards of $6,000.
This has essentially made IVF an unrealistic option for many families. That’s unacceptable and it’s why I’m working on legislation to expand access to IVF to all American families by lowering the costs associated with the procedure.
I believe we can do this in a bipartisan fashion and am buoyed by the support that has emerged from my colleagues in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. I’m committed to fighting for pro-family policies in Washington by protecting IVF and lowering costs associated with the procedure.
U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Columbus, serves Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. His Democratic challenger in the November election will be either State Rep. Adam Miller or community activist Zerqa Abid.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Congressman Mike Carey says he's working to make IVF affordable
