Family Building FEHB Fairness Act

S. 797 would amend federal law to require the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHB), the nation's largest employer-sponsored health insurance plan, to cover fertility treatments and assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Currently, FEHB carriers offer only limited and inconsistent coverage for these treatments. If enacted, the bill would require coverage of a comprehensive range of fertility services including egg and sperm preservation, artificial insemination, IVF, genetic testing of embryos, and fertility medications. The Office of Personnel Management would have one year from enactment to implement the requirements.

The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. If it becomes law, federal employees and their families seeking fertility treatments would gain access to these services through their health insurance, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for expensive procedures. Supporters argue this would help federal employees build families and make the federal government a more competitive employer, while also addressing gaps in coverage that currently exclude some individuals, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, from accessing fertility benefits.