2. Frequently Asked Questions
Download this page as a PDF Background What is “fertility preservation”? Fertility preservation is the process of removing reproductive cells, like sperm and eggs, from the body to protect them from being damaged or destroyed by medical interventions that could harm them. Who needs fertility preservation? Cancer patients who must undergo particular medical treatments like…Details
5. AFP Statement After the Overturn of Roe v. Wade
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation was founded on the premise that ability to have (biologic) children and the timing of building a family is a basic human right. We recognized that cancer patients often had to sacrifice that right because they had to undergo lifesaving treatment that might leave them sterile or significantly impair their…Details
6. Terri L. Woodard, M.D.
Dr. Terri L. Woodard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and Director of Oncofertility Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She also holds a joint appointment in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Baylor College of Medicine. She received her medical…Details
7. Rosemary Semler, RN
Rosemary Semler is a Fertility Nurse Specialist in the Cancer and Fertility Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Through consultation directly with patients and families, she helps them understand the risks that treatment can pose to fertility, describes fertility preservation options, and facilitates referrals to reproductive specialists. In the post-treatment setting, she assists…Details
8. Tyler Ketterl, M.D., MS
Tyler Ketterl, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. He holds 3 board certifications in internal medicine, pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology as well as a Master of Science degree in epidemiology with a focus on clinical research methods at…Details
9. Ruben Alvero, M.D.
Dr. Ruben Alvero is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California. He graduated from Harvard College and received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda,…Details
10. Douglas Fair, MD, MS, FAAP
Douglas Fair, MD, MS, FAAP, is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology and oncology. He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Utah and treats solid tumor patients at Primary Children’s Hospital and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Fair received his medical degree from Albany Medical College in…Details
14. Pennsylvania
Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE 2022 Past Bill: House Bill 2142; Regular Session 2021-2022 – PA General Assembly (state.pa.us)Details
15. Washington
Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE 2022 Past Bill: HB1730/SB5647Details
16. FEHB FERTILITY PRESERVATION COVERAGE
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation Applauds the Federal Government’s Decision to Prioritize Fertility Preservation Coverage for its Employees The Alliance for Fertility Preservation (AFP) commends the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for including coverage for fertility preservation in its annual call for benefit and rate proposals from Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) Program carriers….Details
20. State Laws & Legislation
Over the past few years, many states have introduced bills that would compel insurers to cover fertility preservation procedures for cancer patients and others who are facing potential infertility as result of medical treatment (iatrogenic infertility). In 2017, the first two states—Connecticut and Rhode Island—passed those measures into law. Since then, several others have followed…Details
25. Sponsors & Supporters
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation thanks all of our supporters! Your donations are absolutely vital to our work. These funds allow us to advocate for better insurance coverage, connect patients to fertility experts through Fertility Scout®, and serve individual patients by helping with insurance appeals, providing information about their fertility options, and by directing them…Details
27. Become a Supporter
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation is a 501c3 charitable organization. As such, we are dependent on your support to maintain and grow our resources, services, and, ultimately, our impact. Behind the scenes, our team is constantly working to expand what we do to help make sure that cancer is not a barrier to parenthood. Every…Details
29. Patient Stories
We know that Fertility Preservation isn’t just about “sperm” and “eggs” – it’s about people – patients and survivors and their desire to one day build a family, despite having cancer. We are sharing these stories with you in the hope that you will know, whether you are a survivor considering family-building options or a…Details
30. West Virginia
Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE 2022 Past Bill: HB 4803 Text (wvlegislature.gov) 2020 Past Bill: House Bill 4553Details
32. Vermont
Fertility Preservation Bill H 107 Sponsor Rep. George Till (D-VT) Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE 2018 Past Bill(s): H 629 ; An act relating to insurance coverage for fertility preservation for insureds diagnosed with cancer. 2019 Past Bill(s): H 253; An act relating to insurance coverage for fertility preservation for insureds diagnosed with cancerDetails
33. Utah
Fertility Preservation Bill *HB 192 Substitute 3 (only applies to Medicaid) Bill History Current Status: PASSED Related Resources Utah bill would expand Medicaid coverage to include fertility preservation for cancer patients | KSL.com Utah bill would help Medicaid patients diagnosed with cancer preserve ability to have children (sltrib.com)Details
34. Texas
Fertility Preservation Bill HB 293 SB 93 SB 959 Sponsor(s) Sen. Jose Menendez (D-TX) HB 2682 Sponsor(s) Representative Nicole Collier Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE HB 2682 (04/09/2019) heard by the House Insurance Committee HB 2682 (Updated 04/18/2019) Relating to health benefit coverage for certain fertility preservation services under certain health benefit plans SB 959 (2019)…Details
35. Rhode Island
Fertility Preservation Bill Bill Numbers: 2017-S 0821A, 2017-H 6170A AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE (Mandates insurance coverage for medically necessary expenses for standard fertility preservation services when a medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility.) Sponsors Goodwin; Serpa, Bennett, McNamara, Solomon, and Shekarchi Summary This bill requires insurers to provide coverage for certain fertility preservation…Details
37. North Dakota
Fertility Preservation Bill HB 1147 SB 2233 Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE Related Resources Fiscal Note – SB2233Details
38. New York
Fertility Preservation Bill S 719 A 2817 Summary This bill seeks to update New York state’s infertility insurance mandate to include up-to-date treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is currently excluded. The bill adds coverage for standard fertility preservation treatments for those facing iatrogenic infertility. Bill History Current Status: PASSED Separate, prior versions of this…Details
39. New Jersey
Fertility Preservation Bill Assembly Bill 3150 NJ [R] S 2133 – Mandates health benefits coverage for fertility preservation services under certain health insurance plans. Sponsors of the Assembly Bill Pamela R. Lampitt (DEM-NJ) Gabriel M. Mosquera (DEM-NJ) Sponsors of the Senate Bill Nilsa Cruz-Perez (DEM-NJ) M. Teresa Ruiz (DEM-NJ) Bill History Current Status: ACTIVE Passed by…Details
40. New Hampshire
Fertility Preservation Bill SB279 Amended Bill – SB279 Bill History March 14, 2019 – Passed the Senate Resources New Hampshire’s Infertility Insurance Law FAQs (nhfertilitylaw.com) Governor Chris Sununu Statement on SB 279 | Governor Christopher T. Sununu (nh.gov) New Hampshire’s Infertility Insurance Law FAQsDetails
44. Mississippi
Fertility Preservation Bill HB 1478 Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE Introduced in House, Referred to Insurance Committee, Died in Committee 2018 Past Bill(s):HB 1198Details
45. Massachusetts
Bill History Current Status: INACTIVE 2022 Past Bill: Bill H.1116 (malegislature.gov) 2019 Past Bill(s): MA S.560 An Act Relative to Preserving FertilityDetails
46. Maryland
Fertility Preservation Bill HB908 (sponsor: Pena-Melnyk) SB271 (sponsor: Mathias) Sponsors Pena-Melnyk, Mathias Summary This bill requires insurers to provide coverage for certain fertility preservation procedures; MD already has an IVF mandate. Only includes “standard” procedures for “medically necessary” procedures to prevent “iatrogenic infertility.” Bill History Originally introduced: 2017. After hearings in Assembly and Senate, bill withdrawn; sent to…Details
49. Kentucky
Current Status: INACTIVE Bill History 2022 Past Bill: 22RS HB 584 (ky.gov) 2019 Past Bill: SB 108; An Act relating to coverage for medically necessary fertility preservation services. 2018 Past Bill(s): SB 95; An Act relating to coverage for medically necessary fertility preservation services.Details