A week ago, out of nowhere, Donald Trump published a one-sentence letter on his social media platform. “The Republican Party is moving forward on many fronts,” the former president wrote, “and I am very proud that we are a LEADER on IVF.”
And what would that mean in practice? Six days later, a possible answer came into sharper focus. NBC News reported:
Former President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday that if elected, his administration would not only protect access to in vitro fertilization, but also have the government or insurance companies cover the cost of the expensive treatment for American women who need it.
“Under the Trump administration, we’re going to pay for that treatment,” Trump said, before adding, “We’re going to demand that the insurance company pay.”
The wording led to some confusion about the relevant policy details. Does the Republican candidate, who did not pursue anything along those lines during his four years in the White House, envision a model in which the federal government would foot the bill for IVF services — similar to an existing policy for dialysis — or one in which private insurers would be forced to cover the cost?
When asked by NBC News for clarification, the former president said one option would be to have insurance companies pay “under a mandate, yes.” When CNN asked vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance how this would work in states that ban IVF, he said: didn’t really have an answeror.
So it appears that Trump’s team still has some homework to do to figure out how this will all work.
Still, this is an unusually progressive announcement from a radical far-right candidate, right? It would be, if the GOP candidate’s rhetoric were credible.
Harris’ campaign responded to the news with a press release that made several notable points:
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Donald Trump’s own platform — as referenced on his campaign website — could effectively ban IVF by establishing so-called “fetal personhood.”
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Trump appointed an anti-IVF judge to a lifetime federal judicial appointment, even adding her to a list of potential Supreme Court picks.
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Trump’s White House and campaign hosted the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, who earlier this year issued a ruling banning IVF in the state.
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Trump’s campaign has refused to support IVF protection for more than six months.
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Donald Trump has close ties to the anti-IVF movement.
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Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, voted against IVF protection.
We could go even further down this path and note how many of Trump’s own allies are looking to his proposed second term precisely so they can undermine access to IVF.
And since Trump has tried to repeal, undermine, and sabotage the Affordable Care Act, it’s probably best to take all of his health care promises with a grain of salt.
But I’m also struck by the broader policy circumstances. For years, Republicans have condemned the idea of socialized health coverage and fiercely opposed mandatory private insurance. And yet here is Trump, looking for a winning campaign theme, insisting that Americans’ IVF treatments be covered, either through socialized health coverage or mandatory private insurance.
The party’s principles on health care are firm and inviolable, except when they are not.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
