The thought of IVF being out of reach for military families is a slap in the face to service members unable to conceive. This should not be a political issue, but leave it to Republicans to weaponize and oppose legislation supporting access to in vitro fertilization.
On Thursday, Senate Republicans blocked passage of the Right to IVT Act legislation introduced by Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, Cory Booker from New Jersey and Patty Murray of Washington.
The blockade came after Republicans’ recent failed attempt to pass an alternative IVF law, the IVF Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. That bill would have withheld Medicaid funding from states that ban IVF, but it did not address the legal implications of disposing of non-viable embryos.
In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF should be considered children, making embryo disposal a crime. A month later, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation providing civil and criminal immunity to medical professionals and patients if embryos are destroyed or damaged during IVF procedures.
Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, passed a nonbinding resolution opposing the use of IVF and calling on church members to “use only reproductive technologies” that “affirm the unconditional value and right of affirm the life of every human being.” .” The Catholic Church, with an estimated 52 million adult members in the US, has long opposed the use of IVF.
Some commentators have predicted that opposition to IVF is the next crusade for abortion opponents, two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Infertility rates are high among military families
It is an issue of great importance to military families. Infertility rates among military personnel are significantly higher than the national average. A 2018 study found that 37% of active duty and veteran women surveyed struggled with infertility.
Many military members and veterans, including Senator Duckworth, have relied on IVF to conceive children. But Tricare, the military’s health insurer, does not cover assisted reproductive technology under general circumstances.
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Sens. Duckworth and Murray introduced the Veteran Families Health Services Act last year. It includes provisions to improve coverage of fertility treatments for veterans and to allow service members to freeze their eggs or sperm before deployment without expensive storage fees.
IVF is unaffordable for most military families
Out-of-pocket costs for IVF average about $15,000 and can sometimes exceed $30,000. With an average military salary of $40,000, most military members suffering from infertility simply cannot afford to become pregnant using IVF.
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Military spouses like Julie Eshelman, founder and CEO of the Building Military Families Network, and Courtney Deady, the 2024 AFI National Guard Spouse of the Year at the Armed Forces Insurance Foundation, have taken their fight for access to IVF for military families to the Senate , including advocating for affordable care and interstate access to treatment. For military members, who move frequently, there is increased concern about access to IVF in conservatively run states.
When asked about the Senate’s decision to block the IVF bill, Deady said: “The failure to pass IVF bills is a devastating blow to families, depriving them of the opportunity to realize their dreams of parenthood and inequality in access to reproductive health care is perpetuated. casts a shadow of despair over families struggling with infertility, leaving them without crucial support and potentially forcing them to face financial and emotional burdens on their journey to conception.”
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Affordable access to comprehensive health care should be a given for Americans. The Right to IVF Act includes measures to prevent states from imposing restrictions on IVF and to make the treatment more affordable. Denying military families access to IVF treatments not only ignores the great sacrifices service members have made, but also perpetuates a system of inequality and neglect within military health care.
By offering affordable IVF options, we can uphold the values of honesty and support that are integral to the military community, ultimately strengthening the nation’s gratitude and responsibility to its service members.
Marla Bautista is a fellow military columnist for USA TODAY Opinion.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why was the GOP against the IVF bill? Fertility care is critical for families
