Bipartisan IVF for Military Families

Summary#

This bill would add fertility-related care to TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select for active-duty service members and their dependents. It defines infertility and lists covered services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm and egg retrieval, preservation of eggs/embryos/sperm, artificial insemination, transfer of reproductive genetic material, fertility medications, and care coordination. For IVF, the bill limits coverage to three completed oocyte retrievals per calendar year and generally requires single embryo transfers unless another approach is medically indicated. The bill also bars Department of Defense funds from paying for preimplantation genetic screening, human cloning, international surrogacy, or artificial womb technology. It requires that cost-sharing be determined under existing TRICARE cost rules and forbids waiting periods after a medical diagnosis of infertility. The bill creates a Department of Defense program to coordinate fertility care and to train community health providers on the needs of military families. The changes would apply to services provided on or after October 1, 2027.

What it means for you#

  • Active-duty service members and their dependents would be eligible for diagnosis and a broad set of fertility treatments under TRICARE Prime and Select.
  • IVF coverage would be limited to three completed oocyte retrievals per calendar year, and single embryo transfer would be standard unless a medical reason calls for otherwise.
  • Cost-sharing for fertility care would follow existing TRICARE rules for the type of care provided.
  • No waiting periods could be imposed once a person has a medical diagnosis of infertility.
  • Some procedures and technologies (preimplantation genetic screening, human cloning, international surrogacy, artificial wombs) would not be paid for by the Department of Defense.

Expenses#

  • The bill states that cost-sharing amounts for fertility care are to be determined under existing TRICARE cost rules (for example, sections 1075 and 1075a) and must be applied according to the kind of care provided.
  • The bill does not include any budget estimates, cost totals, or specific funding amounts. No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

Proponents would describe the bill as ensuring that active-duty members and their dependents can get timely fertility diagnosis and a range of fertility treatments through TRICARE, with rules to limit multiple births (single embryo transfer) and training to help community providers meet military families' needs.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.