Sponsors (2)
The bill significantly expands and reduces the cost of fertility care for military families and builds provider capacity, while imposing added Defense/federal costs, introducing a cap of three completed retrievals that may leave some without options, and risking delayed implementation.
Active-duty service members and their dependents will gain comprehensive TRICARE fertility coverage — including evaluation, treatment, up to three completed oocyte retrievals, and embryo transfers consistent with ASRM guidance — greatly improving clinical access to IVF and related services.
Beneficiaries will face little to no out-of-pocket cost for multiple IVF attempts and unlimited embryo transfers under TRICARE, reducing the financial barrier to pursuing assisted reproductive care for covered service members and families.
The Defense Department will establish a program to coordinate fertility care and provide training/support to community providers, which should improve provider capacity, referral pathways, and timely access for service members in areas without military clinics.
Some service members and dependents who need more than three completed oocyte retrievals could be left without additional covered options, potentially leaving these individuals with unresolved infertility despite expanded coverage.
Taxpayers will likely face increased Defense spending to fund the expanded TRICARE fertility benefits and the new coordination/training program, imposing a fiscal cost on the federal budget.
Implementation complexity and the need to coordinate with civilian providers and adhere to ASRM guidance could delay beneficiaries' access until the program begins (effective October 1, 2027), meaning some service members won't see immediate benefit.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires TRICARE Prime and Select to cover fertility care including IVF (up to three completed oocyte retrievals) and creates a Defense coordination program, effective Oct 1, 2027.
Official title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide fertility treatment under the TRICARE Program.
Introduced April 1, 2025 by Sara Jacobs · Last progress April 1, 2025
Requires the Department of Defense to make TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select cover fertility-related services for active-duty service members and their dependents, including diagnostic fertility care, fertility preservation, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) with limits of up to three completed oocyte retrievals per individual and unlimited embryo transfers consistent with ASRM guidance. Establishes a Defense program to coordinate fertility care and support community providers, and applies the coverage and program rules to services provided on or after October 1, 2027.