Military families fighting for our freedom face a unique battle at home: the lack of affordable IVF coverage despite experiencing twice the national rate of infertility.
At a Glance
- Military families experience infertility at double the national average due to frequent relocations, deployments, and exposure to hazardous environments
- TRICARE currently only covers fertility treatments for service-related injuries, leaving most military families to pay tens of thousands out-of-pocket
- The proposed “IVF for Military Families Act” would require TRICARE to provide comprehensive fertility coverage comparable to what Congress members receive
- President Trump’s executive order deadline for recommendations to expand IVF access and reduce costs is May 19, 2025
- Supporters believe expanding military IVF coverage could influence private insurers to follow suit, benefiting millions of Americans
The Battle for Family Building
While American service members defend our nation’s interests abroad, they face an unexpected battle at home: the struggle to build families while serving their country. Military families face infertility rates twice the national average, largely due to the unique hardships of military life including intensive training, frequent relocations, and exposure to hazardous environments. Despite these sacrifices, TRICARE — the military’s health insurance program — only covers fertility services linked to service-related injuries, leaving most military families with limited options for family building.
“Our military families have sacrificed so much for our safety and security – they shouldn’t also sacrifice their dream to build a family. But for too many service members, the lack of TRICARE coverage of IVF has left them with only a few choices: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. This is wrong. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the IVF for Military Families Act with Senator Duckworth to give them every opportunity to build their families.”, said Rep. Sara Jacobs.
The Proposed Solution
The “IVF for Military Families Act” aims to close this coverage gap by requiring TRICARE to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF. Introduced by Representative Sara Jacobs, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Patty Murray, and Representative Rick Larsen, the bill would provide coverage for up to three egg retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers, and necessary medications. This legislation would align military healthcare with the same comprehensive infertility treatment coverage currently available to Members of Congress and their staff.
“After all the tremendous sacrifices they make, our brave women and men in uniform should never have to make the impossible and unjust choice between serving their country or facing financial ruin just to start a family. It was extremely disappointing that our IVF provision—which would have simply ensured that our servicemembers and their families have access to the same level of IVF coverage as Members of Congress—was removed from the final defense bill behind closed doors last year, even after so many of my Republican colleagues continue to loudly and publicly claim to support IVF.”, stated Senator Duckworth.
White House Action and Broader Impact
The push for military IVF coverage comes as the White House explores broader access to fertility treatments. The deadline for policy recommendations on implementing President Trump’s executive order to expand IVF access and reduce costs is May 19, 2025. Senior White House officials have been meeting with infertility doctors, industry leaders, and representatives from conservative policy groups to discuss making IVF more accessible nationwide. Potential policies include declaring IVF an “Essential Health Benefit” under the Affordable Care Act, which would extend coverage to nearly 50 million Americans.
“They’ve called me over and over again”, said Kaylen Silverberg.
Advocates argue that expanding TRICARE coverage would not only support military recruitment, retention, and readiness but could influence private insurers to include IVF in their plans. This ripple effect would benefit millions of American civilians struggling with infertility. Organizations like the Military Officers Association of America and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have voiced strong support for the Act, emphasizing the need for parity in reproductive health care.
Political Landscape
Despite President Trump dubbing himself the “Fertilization President” and “father of IVF” during his campaign, the IVF for Military Families Act has yet to gain significant Republican support. Rep. Jacobs has criticized this hesitation, pointing out the irony that Congress members have access to comprehensive infertility treatment while denying the same coverage to service members. Military advocates emphasize that one in four military families experience infertility, making this an issue of both healthcare equity and military readiness.
“Servicemembers who risk their lives to protect our families deserve all the support they need to grow theirs. Federal employees have access to comprehensive infertility treatment, including IVF – and TRICARE should cover those same services for our servicemembers, full stop. Struggling with infertility is painful enough without having to worry about the cost of treatment.”, said Senator Murray.
As the deadline for the White House recommendations approaches, military families continue to wait for action that would finally recognize their reproductive needs as an essential part of their healthcare and compensation. For those who serve our nation, the ability to build a family shouldn’t come with a price tag they cannot afford.
