The new infertility treatment mandate

A new California law is about to make infertility treatment, including IVF, wildly more accessible to state residents.

Starting Jan. 1, the state is imposing a mandate on most state insurance plans to cover infertility treatment and diagnosis, as our contributor Taina Fonseca covers in a new story.

Some plans aren’t covered by the new mandate. And patients will still face co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums. But for millions of residents, the coverage requirement will suddenly make starting a family financially feasible for the first time.

“The most significant change this brings is that it restores hope,” said Shannon Taylor, Shannon Taylor, the Insurance Administrator at Reproductive Partners Fertility Center in San Diego. “It allows more Californians to hope once they find out that they’re infertile, and it gives them ample opportunities to continue to try to build their family.”

While I’ve got your attention: The city delayed its usual Christmas tree recycling program until Monday to avoid the winter storm.

• Still entertaining family? Find something to do with our weekend guide.

• Today’s the day of SDSU’s trip to the New Mexico Bowl for a tilt against North Texas. The game is at 2:45 and you can catch it on ESPN.