Michigan Democrats are turning up the heat on health insurers with a new bill that would force many plans to cover fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Filed as Senate Bill 922 last Thursday, the proposal would require coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027, and is pitched as a way to tear down a financial wall that keeps some people from starting or growing their families. Lawmakers rolled it out during National Infertility Awareness Week to underscore the timing.
Under SB 922, insurers that deliver, issue, or renew policies in Michigan would have to cover treatment of infertility, from diagnostic testing and fertility preservation to at least four oocyte retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers, and they would need to provide those benefits without discrimination. The measure spells out that carriers could not slap on separate deductibles, copays, or waiting periods just for infertility care, and it clearly carves out “any medical costs of a surrogate after the embryo transfer.” The bill is written to track professional standards from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, if it is enacted, according to LegiScan.
Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, introduced the measure at a Lansing press conference alongside state Rep. Samantha Steckloff and fertility advocates. “Thousands of hopeful Michigan families who need fertility treatments can't access them because their insurance doesn't cover them,” Stephanie Jones of Michigan Fertility Alliance Advocates told reporters at the event. Backers also argued that stronger fertility benefits could give Michigan an edge in the race for talent by expanding employer-style perks, as they explained at the rollout, according to CBS Detroit.
Infertility is hardly a niche issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 in 5 married women ages 15 to 49 with no prior births are unable to get pregnant after a year of trying. That reality has become a key talking point for advocates who say treatments like IUI and IVF should be financially reachable for couples, single parents, and LGBTQ+ people who already face steep costs out of pocket. The CDC also provides the clinical definition of infertility and guidance on when medical evaluation is recommended, framing the condition as a health issue rather than a luxury, according to the CDC.
Who Might Still Be Left Out
Even with a state mandate, plenty of residents could still be on the outside looking in. Experts note that these kinds of laws typically do not touch self-insured employer plans, which fall under federal ERISA rules instead of state regulation. That means a Michigan requirement would mostly land on fully insured plans sold in the state and not automatically on every large employer’s health coverage. Policy analysts say mandates can still influence what becomes standard in the broader market, but they caution that coverage gaps would linger unless federal policy shifts or employers voluntarily add benefits, per KFF.
Next Steps
SB 922 was formally introduced last Thursday and sent to the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee, where hearings, negotiations, and potential amendments will decide whether it advances. If the committee signs off, the bill would need a full Senate vote and action in the House before it could land on the governor’s desk. Supporters say they plan to keep lobbying in Lansing and talking directly with employers as the legislative process plays out, according to the bill record on LegiScan.
