Mother's Day is one of the most joyous days of the year, when daughters and sons honor their moms, and society celebrates the institution of motherhood. But for many families, the joys of motherhood remain out of reach. Infertility affects hundreds of thousands of women in New York and millions across the country, myself among them.

The good news is that technological advancements in in-vitro fertilization treatments are making the once-unattainable concept of biological families a new reality. Unfortunately, the bad news is that the out-of-pocket costs of this treatment are something many simply cannot afford.

Enter the solution. In Albany, there is emerging bipartisan consensus to address this problem. A bill in the Legislature would require insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization and fertility preservation treatments. It's called, "The Fair Access to Fertility Treatment Act" (FAFTA).

In addition to requiring insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization, FAFTA clarifies in state law that infertility is a disease. It requires coverage for fertility preservation when a medical treatment for cancer, for example, can cause infertility. It also adds non-discrimination language to ensure that all eligible individuals can be covered.

Why is all this necessary?

It is estimated that one in eight individuals or couples have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a full-term pregnancy. However, nearly half of those affected by infertility do not have insurance coverage for the necessary treatment. Sixty-seven percent of individuals or couples struggling with infertility report spending more than $10,000 on family building — including adoption and medical treatment. Many spend far more.

Since 1990, New York has required insurance coverage for some infertility treatments, but not for in-vitro fertilization or fertility preservation. Yet compared to the other treatments that are covered, in-vitro fertilization results in fewer pregnancy complications and fewer high-risk births. Eight states require insurance companies to cover in-vitro fertilization treatments, including neighboring states Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. It's wrong that tens of thousands of New Yorkers are denied this basic right.

The Fair Access to Fertility Treatment Act now has bipartisan sponsors in the Assembly and the Senate. Passing this legislation this session will ensure even more New York families get a chance to celebrate Mother's Day.

Barbara Collura is the presdient and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.