Sponsors (4)
Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the coverage of assisted reproductive services under the TRICARE program, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 24, 2025 by Marilyn Strickland · Last progress April 24, 2025
The bill expands TRICARE to cover assisted reproductive care and prohibits discriminatory denials—broadly increasing access for military families and LGBTQ beneficiaries—while imposing meaningful fiscal costs, provider capacity pressures, and added administrative complexity for the military health system.
Active-duty service members and their dependents gain TRICARE coverage for assisted reproductive services (IVF, IUI, sperm/egg/embryo cryopreservation), enabling access to fertility treatments under military health benefits.
Coverage cannot be denied for reasons of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status, expanding access for same-sex couples, single parents, and transgender service members.
Removes the requirement that infertility be tied to a service-connected disability, broadening eligibility so more beneficiaries can receive assisted-reproduction benefits regardless of injury status.
Expanding TRICARE to cover assisted reproduction will increase Department of Defense healthcare costs, potentially requiring higher budgets, reallocation of military health resources, or greater taxpayer funding.
Increased demand for fertility services could strain available providers and military treatment facility capacity, leading to longer wait times or greater reliance on civilian contractors.
Broad eligibility and a prohibition on denials may raise administrative complexity for TRICARE (eligibility determinations, benefit management), requiring new policy guidance, oversight, and implementation resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires TRICARE to cover assisted reproductive services (IVF, insemination, cryopreservation, etc.) for eligible service members and dependents without discrimination.
Requires TRICARE to cover assisted reproductive services for active-duty members (including reserve components) and their dependents, without limits based on service-connection, prior fertility history, relationship status, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Covered services include intrauterine and other insemination procedures, in‑vitro fertilization (IVF), cryopreservation of embryos/eggs/sperm, and other reproductive technologies the Secretary of Defense deems appropriate, with an "appropriate period" for attempts generally at least one year unless a provider recommends a shorter period.