Advocating for Family Building in New Hampshire: Your Voice Matters!

In 1987, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was the first state to mandate that certain infertility benefits be provided by insurance companies.  Since then, fourteen additional States have passed legislation to offer or cover infertility treatment.  However, the last State to mandate coverage for infertility services was CT in 2005 and there is currently no Federal mandate to offer infertility coverage through insurers.

New Hampshire is one of the 35 States without infertility coverage legislation.   For those without insurance coverage, the prices charged for IVF services vary between regions of the country, individual states and even within the same city. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the average cost of IVF in the United States is $12,400 for a single IVF cycle (The Fertility Centers of New England charges $13,000 per cycle, excluding fertility medications).  Importantly, the average number of IVF cycles needed to achieve a successful pregnancy is approximately 1.5 depending on a woman’s age and other medical variables. In women over 38 years of age, more than two IVF cycles may be needed to achieve a successful pregnancy.

While there is no current fertility legislation proposed in the State of New Hampshire , residents can support a new Federal Bill called the Family Act.  Recently, Dr. Joseph Hill met in Portsmouth with staff from the office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to discuss S. 965 The Family Act.  This bill would provide a tax credit for patients seeking IVF treatment and give couples who otherwise could not afford the treatment an opportunity to have a family.  It is important that Senator Shaheen’s office hears from residents in NH about how important her support for this legislation is.  Please call (202) 224-2841and let the person who answers the phone in Senator Shaheen’s office know 1) who you are, 2) where you are calling from, and that 3) you would like Senator Shaheen to co-sponsor S. 965.  You can also send her a quick letter to reinforce your request by clicking here.  With your help, we can ensure that patients with infertility have improved access to care by easing the cost burden for treatment.

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