Sponsors (10)
The bill expands and clarifies fertility benefits for federal employees—improving access and lowering out‑of‑pocket costs for many—while increasing federal/plan costs, creating implementation burdens, and raising potential ethical/privacy concerns.
Federal employees gain explicit coverage for fertility services (IVF, gamete/embryo preservation, and genetic embryo testing) under FEHB plans, improving access to infertility care and reducing out‑of‑pocket costs for those seeking these services.
Clarifying which fertility services are covered and authorizing OPM to coordinate with HHS creates a pathway for more consistent benefit design across FEHB plans, reducing uncertainty for enrollees about what is covered.
People who need to preserve gametes or embryos (for medical treatment, career/timing reasons, or delayed childbearing) can access coverage for preservation services, lowering immediate out‑of‑pocket costs for those individuals.
Taxpayers and/or federal employees could face higher FEHB premiums or increased federal health spending to fund the expanded fertility benefits.
Including services like embryo genetic testing and gamete donation may raise ethical, legal, or privacy concerns for some enrollees and could prompt disputes over coverage limits or eligibility.
Employers, plan administrators, and carriers may face administrative complexity and short‑term costs to update plan rules, provider networks, and claims systems to implement the new fertility benefits.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEHB plans to cover fertility treatment benefits (IVF, gamete preservation, ART, meds, donor services) with OPM/HHS authority to add services.
Adds fertility treatment benefits to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and defines which services count as "fertility treatment." The change directs OPM, in coordination with HHS, to cover services such as gamete preservation, artificial insemination, assisted reproductive technologies including IVF, embryo genetic testing, fertility medications, gamete donation, and other fertility-related services as determined appropriate. The new coverage is scheduled to take effect one year after the law is enacted.
Official title: Amend title 5, United States Code, to protect and expand access to fertility treatment under the health insurance program carried out under chapter 89 of that title, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Tammy Duckworth · Last progress February 27, 2025