New York City Council Advocates for IVF Coverage for Gay Men

The LGBTQIA+ Caucus of the New York City Council is urging Mayor Eric Adams to expand coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to gay men working for the city, as reported by Politico.

Currently, the city’s health plan only covers IVF cycles for employees, females, and males with female partners who have been diagnosed with infertility.

A 2020 state law mandates insurance plans to cover three cycles of IVF for individuals unable to impregnate someone else or conceive. According to Forbes, the cost of a single IVF cycle can range from $15,000 to $30,000.

“As members of the City Council, we strongly believe that family building benefits should be available to all employees, without being restricted by a definition of heteronormative infertility,” the caucus stated in a letter to Adams, as reported by Politico.

“While the city’s discriminatory policy predates this Administration, the current Administration can address this issue.”

Recently, a former assistant district attorney of New York City and his husband sued the city, alleging discrimination against gay men by not covering IVF for them, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The lawsuit accuses the city’s policy of discriminating against same-sex couples who are unable to obtain an infertility diagnosis.

Corey Briskin, the former assistant district attorney who filed the suit with his husband, is set to testify at a City Council health committee hearing on a bill requiring the city to cover assisted reproduction services and adoption for municipal employees without an infertility diagnosis requirement.

Peter Romer-Friedman, Briskin’s lawyer, expressed hope that the City Council’s leadership on this issue will influence Mayor Adams.

Queens Councilmember Lynn Schulman is sponsoring the proposed legislation, emphasizing the importance of equity and access to services for everyone, as reported by Gothamist.

An Adams spokesperson clarified that the city’s health plan covers IVF treatments for municipal employees regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, although costs associated with egg or sperm donation and surrogacy are not covered.

“The Adams administration staunchly supports the rights of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to access the necessary healthcare,” stated spokesperson Liz Garcia.