New York bill would require insurers to cover elective egg-freezing, highlighted by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s personal experience

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced on social media that she is paying $8,000-$9,000 to freeze her eggs, a procedure not covered by her health plan. She said the cost is a significant barrier for many women who choose to preserve fertility for later childbearing.

State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, who introduced Senate Bill S4497/A7339, said the legislation would expand existing mandates that require coverage of fertility preservation for medical reasons to include elective egg freezing. The bill, which has passed the state Senate twice, has yet to advance in the Assembly.

According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, nearly 40,000 egg-freezing cycles were performed nationwide in 2024, up from about 6,000 a decade earlier. While some large employers in tech and finance offer the benefit, most plans do not, and insurers warn that a new mandate could raise overall premiums.

"At a time when health care costs are a key concern for consumers and employers, the cost of new or expanded coverage mandates must be balanced with the goal of preserving affordability for New Yorkers," said Leslie Moran, spokesperson for the state Health Plan Association.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine stopped labeling egg freezing as experimental in 2012, and the procedure’s popularity has grown. Costs vary, with clinics charging $10,000-$20,000 per cycle, and some patients may need multiple cycles.

Alternative financing options have emerged, including a program by Cofertility that offers free egg freezing to donors who share half of the retrieved eggs, and online marketplaces where patients exchange surplus fertility medications. NYU Langone Fertility Center’s Dr. Jamie Grifo cautioned that sourcing medication outside regulated channels carries safety risks.

The proposed legislation would make New York the first state to require insurers to cover elective egg freezing, a move supporters say would increase reproductive autonomy, while opponents cite potential impacts on insurance premiums.