WI Building Families Act

Infertility does not discriminate – it cuts across all socioeconomic levels, and all racial, ethnic and religious lines. Infertility impacts 1 in 8, but women of color experience infertility at even higher rates than their white counterparts. Despite these higher rates of infertility, Black women are less likely to access treatment and if they do, may wait twice as long before seeking help.

 

Individuals are infertile for a host of reasons: injury, wounds sustained in combat, medical condition, or treatment for other conditions such as cancer, sickle cell anemia, Type 1 diabetes, some auto-immune diseases, and more. And LBGTQ+ families/couples sadly face many layers of barriers including medical, legal, and limited access on how they can pursue a family.

 

The American Medical Association, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization recognize infertility as a disease. The American Society for Clinical Oncology has issued guidelines that all at-risk patients should be informed about fertility preservation before the start of potentially sterilizing cancer treatment.

 

For too many families the financial burden is the greatest challenge they must overcome to fulfill their dreams of parenthood. Infertility care is cost prohibitive for most, particularly for low- to middle-income people. Most patients pay out of pocket for fertility treatment, which can amount to well over $10,000 depending on the services received.

 

Currently, millions of Wisconsinites pay monthly premiums for insurance coverage, yet insurers are not required to cover the standard of care for infertility patients or cancer patients and others at risk of medically-induced infertility.

 

The Wisconsin Building Families Act (Senate Bill 693) recognizes infertility as a disease and will expand access and remove economic barriers to fertility treatment by requiring health plans to cover infertility treatment and fertility preservation services.