Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3025
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 3025: Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act
Purpose
This bill aims to expand healthcare benefits under the TRICARE program—a health insurance plan for U.S. military members, retirees, and their families—by requiring coverage for assisted reproductive services. It seeks to ensure that active-duty servicemembers and their dependents have access to fertility treatments without certain restrictions that may currently limit eligibility.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Coverage: Active-duty members of the armed forces (including reserve components) entitled to TRICARE, and their dependents, must receive assisted reproductive services as part of their medical care.
- No Restrictions on Coverage: Services are provided regardless of:
- Whether the treatment relates to a disability or injury connected to military service.
- The presence of a serious illness or injury from service.
- The individual's natural ability to conceive or carry a pregnancy after at least one year of regular, unprotected intercourse (or a shorter period if recommended by a healthcare provider based on medical factors like age or history).
- The person's sex, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status.
- Definitions:
- Assisted Reproductive Services: Includes procedures like intravaginal insemination, intracervical insemination, intrauterine insemination, in-vitro fertilization (IVF, a lab-based method to help with conception), cryopreservation (freezing embryos, eggs, or sperm for later use), and other services deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Defense.
- Appropriate Period: Generally one year for assessing natural fertility, but can be shorter based on a doctor's evaluation.
The bill amends Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section (1074p) to implement these changes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Currently, TRICARE coverage for fertility treatments is limited, often tied to service-related injuries or disabilities, and may exclude certain groups based on personal factors like marital status or sexual orientation.
- This bill removes those barriers, mandating broad coverage for assisted reproductive services without needing to prove a service connection or natural infertility after a set period.
- It expands the definition of covered services to include a wider range of fertility options, giving the Secretary of Defense flexibility to add more as needed.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense (DoD) and TRICARE program will need to update policies, train providers, and potentially increase funding to cover these services, which could raise healthcare costs for the military.
- On Citizens: Active-duty servicemembers and their families gain improved access to fertility care, potentially reducing personal financial burdens and supporting family planning amid deployment-related stresses.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic military healthcare.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Active-duty servicemembers (including reserves) and their dependents, particularly those facing infertility due to service demands, age, or other factors.
- Government Entities: Department of Defense, TRICARE administrators, and military healthcare providers responsible for implementing and delivering the services.
- Healthcare Providers: Fertility clinics and specialists contracted with TRICARE, who may see increased demand for procedures like IVF.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens equal access to healthcare under federal law by prohibiting discrimination in coverage based on protected characteristics like gender or sexual orientation, aligning with broader anti-discrimination principles in military benefits.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection under the law (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments) by ensuring military families receive inclusive reproductive healthcare, without favoring certain groups.
- Political: Advances inclusive policies for diverse military personnel, including LGBTQ+ servicemembers and unmarried couples, potentially influencing recruitment and retention in the armed forces; it may spark debates on federal spending for family benefits versus other defense priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
Cosponsors (3)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act — issued 2025-04-24 — PDF (3 pages)