Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 729, a bill introduced by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-Van Nuys), which mandates large group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The announcement comes shortly after Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked legislation for the second time this year that aimed to establish a nationwide right to IVF.
“California is a proud reproductive freedom state – and that includes increasing access to fertility services that help those who want to start a family. As Republicans across the country continue to claw back rights and block access to IVF – all while calling themselves ‘the party of families’ – we are proud to help every Californian make their own choices about the family they want,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade over two years ago, Governor Newsom, along with the California Legislature, has positioned California as a national leader in reproductive freedom. Newsom is also a founding member of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a coalition of 23 governors dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive rights. The administration has allocated more than $240 million towards enhancing access to reproductive health care in California since Roe’s reversal.
Individuals seeking abortion care or information on reproductive health care can visit Abortion.CA.Gov for resources.
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