Sponsors (9)
The bill expands and standardizes fertility-related coverage for federal employees—reducing out-of-pocket costs and clarifying benefits—while increasing costs for taxpayers/premiums and creating short-term administrative burdens and potential ethical disputes.
Federal employees will gain explicit FEHB coverage for fertility services (including IVF, gamete preservation, and genetic embryo testing), increasing access to medical fertility care.
People who need to preserve gametes or embryos (for medical treatment or delayed childbearing) will face lower out-of-pocket costs because preservation services are covered under FEHB plans.
Federal Employees Health Benefits will have clearer, more consistent benefit design because OPM is authorized to coordinate with HHS, reducing uncertainty about what fertility services are covered across plans.
Taxpayers and/or federal employees may face higher FEHB premiums or increased federal health spending to pay for the expanded fertility benefits.
Employers and FEHB plan administrators will incur short-term administrative costs and complexity to update plan rules, provider networks, and claims systems to implement the new fertility benefits.
Some enrollees may have ethical, legal, or privacy concerns about coverage for services like embryo genetic testing and gamete donation, potentially prompting disputes over coverage limits or eligibility.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEHB plans to cover fertility treatment benefits (e.g., gamete preservation, artificial insemination, IVF, embryo testing, fertility drugs, gamete donation) with OPM/HHS guidance.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Tammy Duckworth · Last progress February 27, 2025
Adds fertility treatment benefits to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program’s list of covered health benefits. The law defines covered fertility services—such as gamete preservation, artificial insemination, assisted reproductive technologies (including IVF), embryo genetic testing, fertility medications, and gamete donation—and directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), working with HHS, to determine other appropriate fertility-related services. The change becomes effective one year after enactment.