For years, countless couples across New Jersey have struggled with the crushing reality that infertility care — from ovulation-enhancing medications to diagnostic tests — was financially out of reach. Private insurance rarely covered the costs, and Medicaid offered nothing. But that whole dynamic changed when Assemblyman Avi Schnall delivered a sweeping win for families: a new law guaranteeing Medicaid coverage for infertility treatments and medications, a shift that is beginning to transform the lives of thousands of couples.
The legislation, introduced and championed by Assemblyman Schnall, ensures coverage for critical services such as office visits, bloodwork, critical drugs, ultrasounds, and hysterosalpingograms. For many families, those services had previously been out of reach due to cost barriers.
“This is a lifeline for families who have been told hope was too expensive,” Schnall said. “Infertility is not a luxury issue. It is a medical condition — and now, Medicaid is treating it that way.”
Assemblyman Schnall built the program after hearing firsthand from advocates and families, crafting legislation modeled on a successful New York initiative. He secured support from Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and First Lady Tammy Murphy and shepherded the plan into the final state budget. Unlike symbolic measures, the law is fully funded, with clear provisions to ensure access to both medications and clinical care.
In New York, Medicaid’s infertility coverage led to more than 1,300 births in its first years. With New Jersey’s larger population and growing demand, the impact is expected to be even greater.
To recognize the achievement, Premium Health — which played a major role in helping craft the New Jersey program — recently hosted an appreciation event that drew hundreds of community members, healthcare leaders, and advocates. Leaders from CHEMED, Bonei Olam, and A TIME praised Assemblyman Schnall’s leadership, while couples shared emotional testimonies about the financial and emotional toll of navigating infertility without coverage.
“This bill is going to change lives and bring lives — thousands of them,” Assemblyman Schnall said. “We are grateful to give hope back to families who thought they had none.”
The law positions New Jersey as one of the few states offering comprehensive Medicaid infertility coverage, a move that could potentially serve as a national model at a time when reproductive health policy remains deeply divided in Washington.
Wow, what a Zechus!
What about those couples that are not on Medicaid? They can’t get the same help as those on Medicaid? Fertility treatments are prohibitively expensive whether you are in Medicaid or not.
This will presumably take a big burden off of bonei olam, which can free up more $$$$ to help more couples…… I understand that bonei olam may ask those in a “higher income bracket” to “chip in” for treatments. However maybe now they can subsidize those in the “higher bracket” more or completely.
For those that do not know about fertility treatments the things that are going to now be covered is not the full treatment. It is but a drop in the bucket. They are not offering to pay for the big procedures but for office visits, blood work, ultrasounds, and a few other tests. The most expensive treatments will still need to be covered. Even private insurance does not cover the big procedures. Private insurance covers the above things that Medicaid covers but they do not cover the actual infertility treatments. Bonei Olam is still going to have to give a substantial amount to couples going through fertility treatments. In the end with this new bill those on Medicaid and those not on Medicaid will be in the same position, both still needing help from Bonei Olam for their fertility treatments
Why on Earth are people that need government assistance on a mission to make a baby??? That’s another person on assistance! If my tax money is going towards your Healthcare, food, ect ect, please don’t sign me up for more donations. It’s absolutely shameful, pathetic, and makes me want to vomit. For the people who abuse the system, a simple thank you would be in order. So sickening!
If there are no babies, there is no one doing work. On the other hand, the mor the merrier – more bulk production, better prices etc.
That’s why you support this? So you can make more ” workers”? That’s what you’re saying. How about stop the mooching , leeching, and freeloading off hard working people. If that’s you you’re new nickname can be “the big mooch”!
I have what you would call a big family. I don’t mooch, leech or freeload off hardworking people. I pay lots taxes, give charity and help others. I know many many people in Lakewood, Jackson etc who do too. Your comment smacks of disgust and vitriol for the family values of your neighbors which incidentally stems from the first Biblical commandment to “be fruitful”
While there is some truth in what you are saying. The discussion is not per se should someone who is on gov’t assistance “make a baby” rather the question is “should insurance companies be paying for infertility treatments or not, specifically govt funded insurance”?
Based on your question, medicaid(a government insurance) should not cover OBGYN visits, labor and delivery as well as post partom care. “Because why should those on government programs be making a baby”?
I think we can all agree it would be ridiculous to say we should stop insuring child birth etc…. so if you don’t mind, if you can clarify your argument.
Now what it boils down to really is, that the way g-d created the world was, in order for mankind or really any living being to exist, it must reproduce. You look at societies like Japan, Italy, and South Korea, whom all have declining, populations, the economic as well as demographic consequences and strains that they currently face due to it can lead to collapse. (Which is why most declining populations, are trying to encourage growth, with different kinds of incentives)
Now to say only the wealthiest among us should be able to reproduce is ludicrous. Because one can argue we should abolish any insurance for that rate, because why should we extend the life of someone living off the government, or in the case of private insurance, the other policyholders(as the more coverage there is, the higher the premium).
Getting back to reproduction, every person should be given the care and medical support needed to reproduce, some it may just be doctor visits, some it may be further care, such as drugs, or IVF etc….. but to argue that because they live off the govt, they shouldn’t have the right to have children, is ludicrous.
That said, govt programs, are a bit weak, and there definitely should be stricter work requirements, you should have to give in, in order to take out……
I don’t disagree with everything you say. I am not against government assistance whatsoever( like the current administration). I was a recipient of foodstamps and Medicaid when I became a single mother. I was able to get off of assistance seven years ago . In our society and our County in particular we should be handing out condoms and not IVF treatment on Medicaid. I live on the Jackson Lakewood border and we don’t need anymore carbon footprints in this part of the State. That’s for sure.
Fertility treatments could possibly be something, who knows. But a major frum nutritionist says from over from mainstream Harvard and John’s Hopkin’s medical experts that if someone has fertility issues, they should just change their diet. Most of what people eat and drink is junk food. That sushi on the table? Farmed salmon is from the worst junk foods known to man (and most salmon for sale is farmed). And BTW, wild-caught tastes better too!
I’m not sure if this is too much for TLS but I’ll give it a shot. Based on conversations with friends who are struggling and their conversations with doctors, rabbonim etc…….. a big part of infertility issues today is caused by hormonal birth control. Now understandably, a large portion of the population bh it doesn’t effect. However, due to the common and widespread use of hormonal birth control, both before marriage, as well as before attempting a first child or even in between children, the body gets “messed up” in a sense, and just needs a reset of sorts. That said, the struggle people face, goes way beyond this, sure, being in better shape may help in a sense, however there are other clearer issues that are directly affecting people. Better education on options might lead to a lower infertility rate. As well hormonal birth control messes with hormones, which in turn messes with the brain. Maybe that’s why there are so many shalom bayis issues these days, which may not have existed in previous generations.
Fertility treatments involve using hormonal medications as well that change the makeup of the body. Whenever hormonal drugs are used it can cause havoc on the body. Fertility treatments as well can cause havoc on the body because it plays around with the hormones to make the body optimal for treatment.
I do believe this discussion is beyond the scope of the TLS comments forum, but, just one point. Girls who are using hormonal birth control before marriage typically are doing so to balance a pre-existing hormonal condition. Whether or not that is the optimal treatment is a discussion to have in a different place, but, I’m just pointing out that this is correlation, not causation and the question is whether fertility issues could be stemming from the pre-existing hormonal imbalance.
Obviously you know nothing about infertility. What you read is bogus. There are numerous diagnoses for infertility and different treatments. I have heard some crazy explanations from people who have no idea what they are talking about as to what causes infertility, yours goes on that list. Try reading legitimate studies on the topic.
I do not support tax dollars being used to pay for fertility treatments for those who require governmental assistance for their own basic needs. I do support voluntary donations, tithes, etc., being used for those purposes, of course.