SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – A new Illinois law will require all group insurance plans to cover fertility treatments beginning Jan. 1, 2026, including in vitro fertilization.

Now, the state will ask voters if they want to require insurers to cover unlimited fertility treatments in a non-binding referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The question states: “Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments?”

“It is a very costly and expensive process,” said state Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, at a Feb. 7 press conference about the legislation.

Castro sponsored the legislation, which Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed into law Aug. 2 after it passed both the state House and Senate with broad bipartisan support.

“Diagnosing and treatment infertility is an important aspect of reproductive health care that is often overlooked,” Castro said. “Whether it is IVF, embryo transfer or another type of treatment, it can be very difficult to access these treatments without a diagnosis, even for people who receive a physician’s recommendation for treatment."

As for the referendum, it asks voters whether state lawmakers should look at expanding the fertility treatment mandate to all plans offering pregnancy benefits. The mandate would require insurers to cover an unlimited number of treatment cycles.

“This is about people. If you want to have a child through IVF, you should be able to have a child through IVF,” said state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, at the Feb. 7 press conference.

The referendum is non-binding. That means Illinois law will not change even if it gets majority support. The results can; however, inform lawmakers on how to proceed, ranging from doing nothing to passing legislation or even putting a constitutional amendment on a future ballot.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois opposes the ballot initiative. A statement on its website said, in part:

“Many couples struggle with infertility. The Catholic Church walks with them and supports them in their journey to bring new life into the world. All life is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore is good. We respect the dignity of all human life.

However, the path of choosing IVF cannot be supported because a good end does not justify unacceptable means.

In vitro fertilization replaces the intimate act of procreation between a man and a woman in marriage, with an act that puts a medical professional in control of the creation and selection of which embryos ultimately will be given the potential to live or die.

Those embryos not chosen for implantation are either frozen, used for experimentation, or terminated.

IVF also opens the door to surrogacy and donation of eggs and sperm, further removing the gift of procreation from the marital act.“

“The wording of this referendum could also be interpreted to cover procedures such as gene editing and human cloning.”

“In addition, the language of this advisory referendum provides no protection for many religious and secular employers who have moral or religious objections to including such procedures in insurance coverage.”

There are two other non-binding referendums on the ballot.

One asks voters whether the state should raise taxes 3% on incomes over $1 million to pay for property tax relief.

The other asks voters whether candidates should face civil penalties if they interfere or attempt to interfere with an election worker doing their job.

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