Rep. Sara Jacobs Secures IVF Coverage Expansion in Committee-Passed NDAA
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) passed her amendment that would establish TRICARE coverage of assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, for all active duty service members and their dependents through the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act in the House Armed Services Committee. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) passed a similar provision through the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. These two amendments are inspired by their bicameral legislation, the IVF for Military Families Act.
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “Our military families are leaving the Armed Forces because they can’t access and afford the family-building services they need and want. About a quarter of active-duty service members and military spouses report infertility, and yet, TRICARE doesn’t automatically cover IVF. That leaves our service members with limited options: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. These options are unacceptable for those who bravely wear our country’s uniform, especially because Members of Congress and our staff got access to this exact same coverage earlier this year. That’s why I’m so proud that both Senator Duckworth and I passed our amendments that require TRICARE coverage of IVF through our respective committees. I will keep fighting until we get this over the finish line because that’s the least we can do for those who’ve sacrificed so much for all of us.”
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