Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said the decision to freeze her eggs took time "to consider, weigh and save up for." That's not surprising: A single egg freezing cycle, including hormone stimulation and the retrieval procedure, costs around $16,000, on average, according to FertilityIQ, a fertility data and education platform.
Health insurance coverage of the elective procedure is not widespread, meaning many women have to shoulder these costs on their own. Ongoing storage fees and taxes can make the tab grow even more.
Ocasio-Cortez, who is 36, recently said on ABC's "This Week" that she hasn't ruled out a future presidential and U.S. Senate campaign. However, the expense of egg freezing — compounded by a widespread lack of insurance coverage — remains an obstacle for many women.
"A single egg freezing cycle in the United States typically costs $10,000 to $20,000," said Dr. Stephanie Kuku, a former gynecologist and senior adviser to the World Health Organization. The total tab can be much higher if multiple cycles are needed, and after factoring in additional costs such as storage and implantation.
For comparison, in New York City, the total egg-freezing costs for a 38-year-old woman who needs three cycles can reach $47,000.
Health coverage of egg freezing is not common. In 2025, about 22% of employers with 500 or more workers provided coverage for elective egg freezing, up from 5% in 2015.
