New legislation in Hawaii is being proposed that would require insurance companies to cover the cost of fertility treatment for same-sex couples. Hawaii is one of eight states that requires insurance companies to cover the cost of in vitro fertilization, but this law only applies to married heterosexual couples. Currently, with the way the law is written, IVF is only covered in Hawaii if a woman uses sperm from her spouse.
The LGBT community in Hawaii is lobbying to remove the requirement that egg and sperm come from a married couple. They are also pushing to require coverage for surrogates, which would help male same-sex couples who must use a surrogate. If the legislation passes, Hawaii will become the first state in the country to include surrogates in mandated insurance coverage.
With marriage equality finally being accepted in the U.S., this should be the next step. Same-sex couples should receive the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples in all regards, including coverage for fertility treatment.
If this legislation passes in Hawaii, hopefully other states will follow suit. At Reproductive Partners, we whole-heartedly support equal access to fertility care for all patients. We have helped numerous same-sex couples achieve the families they desire and will continue to support the LGBT community.