What TrumpRx Covers (and Doesn’t)
TrumpRx negotiates prices on medications through the government’s bulk purchasing power. For fertility, the relevant categories:
Covered (with meaningful savings)
- Letrozole (Femara): Used for ovulation induction. Generic widely available. TrumpRx discount: ~30–50% off retail. Out-of-pocket with discount: $15–30 for a cycle.
- Clomiphene (Clomid): First-line ovulation medication. Generic. TrumpRx discount brings it to $10–20/cycle.
- Metformin: Used for PCOS insulin resistance. Already cheap generically ($4–15/month), but TrumpRx can bring it even lower.
- Progesterone (oral and suppositories): Luteal phase support. Prometrium and generic versions available through the program.
- Thyroid medications: Levothyroxine, important for TTC with subclinical hypothyroidism. Already inexpensive but covered.
Not Covered (or minimal savings)
- Injectable gonadotropins (Gonal-F, Menopur, Follistim): The most expensive fertility drugs ($1,000–5,000 per cycle). These are specialty biologics and are generally NOT included in TrumpRx’s negotiated formulary. This is the biggest gap.
- Trigger shots (Ovidrel, Pregnyl): Limited coverage. Some generics available but savings are modest.
- PIO (progesterone in oil): Specialty compounded versions not covered. Brand versions may have limited discounts.
IUI cycle: Letrozole + trigger + IUI procedure. TrumpRx saves ~$30–80 on medications. Total cycle cost: $500–2,000 (most cost is the procedure, not drugs).
IVF cycle: Gonadotropins + trigger + progesterone support. TrumpRx saves ~$50–100 on progesterone and oral meds. Does NOT cover the $3,000–5,000 in injectable stimulation drugs. Total medication cost: $4,000–7,000 with minimal TrumpRx impact.
Better Alternatives for IVF Drug Costs
- Fertility pharmacy discount programs: MDR Pharmacy, Encompass, and Village Fertility often beat insurance co-pays.
- Manufacturer compassion programs: Merck (Gonal-F), Ferring (Menopur), and EMD Serono all have income-based assistance programs.
- International pharmacies: Some patients order from Canadian or Israeli pharmacies at 40–60% savings. Legal in most cases for personal use. Discuss with your RE.