Jennifer Stein testifies before the House Health Finance and Policy Committee April 8 in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, right, that would require health plans to cover infertility treatment. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
Jennifer Stein sat at the testifier table Wednesday and described herself as a mother, wife and spouse of a cancer survivor.
She told the House Health Finance and Policy Committee that her husband was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and how their journey ended with a child.
“Our employer-sponsored insurance covered only a fraction of the amount it cost," Stein told lawmakers. "We drained our savings, held fundraisers and leaned in on the generosity of our families. After one round of IVF we were blessed with our daughter, Kennedy, who was born in 2022. She’s the light of our lives.”
Twenty-five states have laws requiring some form of insurance coverage for infertility. Minnesota is not one of them.
Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie) sponsors HF4609 to require Minnesota health plans to cover infertility treatments. “Families cash out their 401Ks, take out second mortgages, max out credit cards, take out loans and even have bake sales just to have a child,” she said. Read more
