Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6797
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T17:23:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act" (H.R. 6797) aims to expand healthcare benefits under the TRICARE program—a health insurance plan for active-duty military members and their families—by adding coverage for fertility treatments. This addresses infertility issues faced by military personnel, helping them build families without financial barriers from out-of-pocket costs.
Key Provisions
- Coverage Expansion: Fertility-related care, including diagnosis and treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF—a process where eggs are fertilized outside the body), must be covered under TRICARE Prime (a managed care option) and TRICARE Select (a preferred provider option) for active-duty service members and their dependents.
- IVF-Specific Rules:
- Up to three completed egg retrieval cycles (oocyte retrievals) per calendar year.
- Single embryo transfers are required unless a doctor determines multiple are medically necessary, following guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (a professional group setting standards for reproductive health).
- Cost and Access Rules:
- Costs are shared based on existing TRICARE rules (e.g., copays for inpatient or outpatient visits), treating fertility care like other medical services.
- No waiting periods or extra limits apply once infertility is diagnosed by a doctor.
- Prohibited Uses: Department of Defense (DoD) funds cannot cover preimplantation genetic screening (testing embryos for genetic issues before implantation), human cloning, international surrogacy (arranging births via surrogates abroad), or artificial womb technology (experimental devices simulating pregnancy outside the body).
- Definitions:
- Covered member: Only active-duty Armed Forces personnel (not retirees or former members).
- Infertility: Defined broadly as failure to conceive after regular unprotected sex, inability to reproduce without help, or a doctor's diagnosis based on history, age, exams, or tests.
- Fertility-related care: Includes diagnosis and treatments such as IVF, sperm/egg retrieval, preservation of eggs/embryos/sperm (freezing for later use), artificial insemination (placing sperm in the reproductive tract), medications, and coordination services.
- Coordination Program: DoD must create a program to ensure timely access to fertility care, including training community doctors on the special needs of military families (e.g., frequent moves or deployments).
- Implementation: Changes apply to services starting October 1, 2027; fertility benefits are excluded for former members and their dependents under certain contracts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code (which governs medical care for the military) by adding new sections (1074p for coverage and 1110c for coordination).
- Updates Section 1079(a) to require fertility care per the new rules and modifies Section 1086(a) to exclude it from benefits for former members.
- Previously, TRICARE covered some infertility diagnostics but not comprehensive treatments like IVF for active-duty families; this bill mandates full coverage without special restrictions, marking a major expansion of reproductive health benefits.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The DoD will need to allocate funds for treatments, update TRICARE contracts with providers, and develop training programs, potentially increasing healthcare budgets but improving support for service members.
- Citizens: Active-duty military families gain easier access to fertility services, reducing financial stress from infertility (affecting about 1 in 8 couples) and supporting family growth amid military stressors like deployments.
- International Relations: No direct impacts; prohibitions on international surrogacy limit overseas options but do not affect foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Active-Duty Service Members and Dependents: Primary beneficiaries, gaining covered fertility treatments to address service-related infertility causes (e.g., stress, exposures).
- Department of Defense and TRICARE Providers: Responsible for implementation, funding, and coordination; community healthcare providers receive training to handle military-specific cases.
- Military Families Overall: Broader support for retention and morale, as family-building options may encourage longer service.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with federal authority over military benefits (under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, granting Congress power over Armed Forces welfare); no challenges to privacy rights (e.g., reproductive decisions) as it expands voluntary access without mandates.
- Constitutional: Neutral; enhances equal protection for military personnel's healthcare without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) signals broad support for military family issues; could set precedent for expanding TRICARE to other wellness areas, influencing future defense budgets and veteran advocacy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (26)
Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (6 pages)