Senators Pennycuick, Miller Introduce Measure to Require Insurance Coverage for Fertility Preservation for Women Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Pennsylvania Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) and Pennsylvania Senator Nick Miller (D-16) announced the introduction of legislation to require insurance coverage in Pennsylvania for standard fertility preservation services for cancer patients who must undergo medical treatment that results in infertility.

The Senators were joined by Chick Mission Founder, CEO and Survivor, Amanda Rice; Rachel Dancheck, Survivor; Dr. Lindsay Goldblatt, Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Dr. Sally Vitez and Dr. Nicole Marchetto, MPH, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialists, Shady Grove Fertility.

"We know cancer treatment can save a patient's life, yet it can also permanently damage reproductive function. We also know that paying for fertility preservation can be cost prohibitive for most people and are inconsistently covered by insurers, leaving many with a nearly impossible choice between the treatment they need to survive and preserving their ability to have children," said Pennycuick. "That's why we introduced Senate Bill 1315 to require insurance coverage in Pennsylvania for standard fertility preservation services for cancer patients who must undergo medical treatment that results in infertility."

"No Pennsylvanian facing cancer should have to choose between fighting for their life today and preserving the opportunity to build a family tomorrow," said Miller. "Requiring insurance coverage for fertility preservation is a necessary step to protect patients' futures when they need support the most. This legislation will help ease the financial and emotional burden on Pennsylvanians navigating one of the most difficult moments of their lives, while providing comfort and peace of mind that they still have options to plan for their future with their loved ones."

"We have extraordinary advancements in cancer care. Survival rates are improving. Patients are living longer, fuller lives. But our system has not kept pace when it comes to protecting what comes after survival," said Rice. "Fertility preservation is not experimental. It is not elective. It is a well-established, time-sensitive medical intervention that must happen before treatment begins. That is not a medical gap. That is a policy gap. Passing comprehensive fertility preservation coverage ensures that patients across Pennsylvania receive consistent, timely access to care: regardless of income or circumstance."

"Today, I'm nearly two years out from active treatment. And now, I'm beginning to think about what building my family could look like, because I had access to fertility preservation when I needed it most," said cancer survivor Rachel Dancheck. "But not everyone gets that chance. Many patients are not referred to in time. Many cannot access specialists quickly enough. And many simply cannot afford it. Access to fertility preservation is not guaranteed, especially here in Pennsylvania. We have to do better."

Dr. Lindsay Goldblatt, Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Fox Chase Cancer Center, noted that oncologists often need to start chemotherapy within two weeks of a patient's first visit. "In that same window, we are asking patients to process a life-threatening diagnosis and make urgent decisions about their future fertility. Fertility preservation is not experimental. It is not elective. It is evidence based; guideline recommended medical care that must happen before treatment begins. And yet, many patients never pursue it. Not because they do not want children and not because they do not value their future, but because coverage is inconsistent, confusing, or simply unaffordable. Survivorship must mean more than just being alive. It must include the possibility of a full life afterward."

According to Dr. Sally Vitez, fertility preservation for patients facing cancer is time sensitive, and there is a narrow window before treatment begins where intervention is still possible. "Patients are trying to understand what is happening, what treatment will involve, and what the next steps look like, often all at once. When fertility is introduced into that conversation, something changes. The discussion expands beyond diagnosis and treatment. It includes the possibility of life after cancer. That moment matters," said Vitez. "It allows patients to think about themselves not only as someone undergoing treatment, but as someone who will come through it."

"A patient is diagnosed with cancer. Within 24 hours, she is in my office, still processing the worst news of her life, and I must tell her that the very treatment designed to save her may also take away her ability to have children. Within two weeks, we need to complete an egg retrieval before chemotherapy begins. There is no time to fundraise. There is no time to set up a GoFundMe. There is no time to appeal a denial," said Dr. Nicole Marchetto. "Every day of delay is a day closer to treatment and a day further from parenthood. Cost should never be the reason a patient runs out of time."

Twenty-one states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma, have taken this important step to expand insurance coverage for oncofertility benefits.

You can watch the full press conference here.

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