Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Sunday he is “open” to former President Trump’s proposal to have the government or insurance companies cover in vitro fertilization (IVF).
“Well, all Republicans, to my knowledge, support IVF, in the Congress. And there’s no state that prohibits or regulates IVF in a way that makes it inaccessible,” Cotton said in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.” “It is expensive for many couples. I understand that. So, it’s something I’m open to, that most Republicans would be open to.”
The Republican senator said the fiscal impact would have to be first evaluated, “whether the taxpayer can afford to pay for this” and “what impact it would have on premiums.”
“But in principle, supporting couples who are trying to use IVF or other fertility treatments, I don’t think is something that’s controversial at all,” he said.
Trump said Thursday his administration would protect access to IVF and have either the government or insurance companies pay for the treatment if he’s elected in November.
“We are going to be — under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment,” he said in an exclusive interview with NBC News, adding would apply to “all Americans who get it; 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 added.
“Meet the Press” anchor Kristen Welker noted Cotton voted against a Senate bill that would have protected and expanded IVF access and mandated some coverage by health insurance plans.
Cotton called that bill Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) “ridiculous messaging bill,” and noted how the bill included various other policies Schumer “slapped together.”
“It’s a bill that also would’ve protected and expanded IFV access. So that’s a no,” Welker responded.
When asked where the money would come from to fund IVF under Trump’s proposal, Cotton said he would have to “evaluate any specific legislation.”
Welker then suggested Cotton is still undecided on a government-funding IVF plan, to which he said, “Well, I certainly support couples having access to IVF, and it’s not even a controversial issue in any of the 50 states.”
Cotton’s Republican colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), however, said he would not support the idea of mandating insurance companies to cover IVF treatments.
When asked if he would back the proposal, Graham said, “No … no, because there’s no end to that.”
Graham, instead, suggested a tax credit for people who use IVF and other treatments to become pregnant.