Singles Seeking Pregnancy Covered Under MN Infertility Bill

ST. PAUL, MN — Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature introduced a bill Wednesday that would require insurance companies to cover the costs of infertility treatment.

Included in the bill's coverage requirements are people who are single but would still like to become pregnant.

The bill identifies infertility as a disease, condition, or status characterized by one of three situations:

1. The failure of a person with a uterus to establish a pregnancy or to carry a pregnancy to live birth after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse for a person under the age of 35 or six months for a person 35 years of age or older, regardless of whether a pregnancy resulting in miscarriage occurred during such time

2. A person's inability to reproduce either as a single individual or with the person's partner without medical intervention

3. A licensed health care provider's findings based on a patient's medical, sexual, and reproductive history; age; physical findings; or diagnostic testing.

Regardless of status as a single individual or in a relationship, the bill requires insurance companies to offer plans that cover the cost of unlimited embryo transfers and at least four completed egg retrievals.

The bill's language follows an effort within the medical community to expand the traditional definition of infertility, which was limited to heterosexual couples.

Last fall, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine became the latest group to change its definition of infertility to include anyone who needs help procreating.

"This revised definition reflects that all persons, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, deserve equal access to reproductive medicine," said Jared Robins, MD, ASRM CEO, back in October.

"This inclusive definition helps ensure that anyone seeking to build a family has equitable access to infertility treatment and care."