The pain I have felt from not being able to have children is indescribable. It is soul-crushing and persistent. I'd tell you my story but I would not be able to see through my tears to type it, so let's skip the anecdotes.

Health insurance often excludes coverage of fertility treatments. Around the Kansas City area one round of IVF costs $16,000+, and that does not include any of the diagnostic testing that comes first.

1 in 8 couples experience infertility. Fertility treatments should absolutely be treated as healthcare because infertility can lead to many other health issues. Up to 60% of people experiencing infertility or recurrent loss suffer from depression, anxiety, or PTSD. I am hoping this petition gains enough attention that Kansas legislators take this cause seriously. Mandate health insurance coverage not only for infertility diagnoses, but for fertility medications, IUIs, IVF, and more!