Trump Floats Coverage Mandate for I.V.F. Treatment
New York TimesAug 19
Trump Proposes Universal Coverage for IVF
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The Facts
Former US Pres. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said several times on Thursday that he would ensure the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) would be covered if he's reelected this fall.
Speaking to a crowd in Potterville, Mich., Trump said under his administration, the government or insurance companies would pay for "all costs associated with IVF treatment" because "we want more babies, to put it nicely."
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump continues to prove he's a maverick who's willing to buck the party line to make lives better for average Americans. His support of coverage for IVF shows he isn't beholden to the Republican elites and plans to be a champion for women's rights if he's reelected.
Democratic narrative
If Trump truly believes in covering IVF, he's not just moving toward the political middle; he's going progressive. His administration didn't do anything even close to this during his first term. But considering this announcement was presented without any details about funding or navigating state laws, it was probably made off the cuff in an attempt to pander to women voters.
Conservative narrative
This is a slap in the face to the pro-life movement, which has diligently supported Trump throughout his presidential campaigns. Maintaining the legality of IVF — considering how many embryos are destroyed to support this process — is a leftist policy, and financially supporting it will place an undue burden on taxpayers and drive up insurance premiums. Trump must rethink this position.