Illinois bill requiring insurance coverage for infertility treatment passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois senators passed a plan Friday to guarantee insurance coverage for prescribed infertility treatments.

The legislation requires insurance companies to provide coverage for infertility treatments recommended by physicians without requiring patients to complete treatments their doctors deem ineffective.

"My daughter was born via in vitro fertilization, so this initiative is near and dear to my heart," said Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).

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Licensed healthcare providers could also immediately approve any infertility procedure based on patient's medical, sexual and reproductive history as well as age and physical findings.

"When an insurance company tells a young lady who wants to have a child that they can't have one through IVF unless they go through this treatment plan of IUI (intrauterine insemination) or whatever the insurance company dictates, that not only causes an emotional toll on that individual," Hastings stressed. "It causes an emotional toll on their family."

IVF — The proposal would require insurance companies to cover expenses for standard fertility preservation and follow-up services regardless of medical necessity or diagnosis of infertility.

Hastings said personal decisions should be made between a medical professional and patient instead of insurance companies.

Senate Bill 2639 passed out of the Senate on a 50-0 vote. Nine senators decided not to vote on the plan.

Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) will be the chief sponsor of the proposal in the House. Representatives could discuss the bill when they return to Springfield next week.