Does University of California cover IVF?
What University of California publishes about fertility benefits for its US employees, in its own words, with the page each statement is on.
Yes. University of California says it covers IVF for eligible US employees, up to 2 cycles. Part-time workers can qualify: employees appointed at least 50% of the time for a year or more, or who complete 1,000 hours in a rolling 12 months, get full benefits, and this limit applies to members of the UC Care or HealthSavings+ plans. The benefit is run by WINFertility. UC says all its non-Medicare medical plans offer infertility benefits that vary by plan. The two-cycle limit is the UC Care and HealthSavings+ plans' benefit.
What University of California says it covers
Read on Oct 30, 2026. The words in quotation marks are the source's own.
IVF is covered
“Coverage includes IVF, GIFT and ZIFT coverage with 50% coinsurance (after deductible), up to a combined limit of two treatment cycles per lifetime, per member.”
UC Care and HealthSavings+ medical plans
2 cycles
Two treatment cycles per member for life, combined across IVF, GIFT and ZIFT, at 50% coinsurance after the deductible, in WINFertility's network. Fertility medications count toward the same maximum, and once two egg retrievals are done the benefit ends for all infertility services, IUI included.
“Coverage includes IVF, GIFT and ZIFT coverage with 50% coinsurance (after deductible), up to a combined limit of two treatment cycles per lifetime, per member.”
Run by WINFertility
WINFertility administers the fertility benefit for University of California, so it is the one to call about which clinics are in network and what needs approval first.
“If you are struggling to conceive, WINFertility is here to help.”
Infertility diagnosis
University of California says the benefit requires an infertility diagnosis.
“All fertility services require a diagnosis of infertility and are subject to medical necessity and prior authorization and approval by WINFertility’s Medical Management Program.”
Egg freezing
University of California says elective egg freezing is not covered.
“Elective fertility preservation is a non-covered service unless part of a covered IVF cycle or due to medical treatments that may indirectly or directly cause iatrogenic infertility.”
Adoption
UC says it reimburses up to $5,000 of eligible expenses per adoption, for up to two adoptions.
“provides financial reimbursement of up to $5,000 of eligible expenses per adoption.”
Surrogacy
UC's PPO plans say they do not cover surrogacy expenses or the cost of donor eggs or sperm.
“It does not cover expenses for surrogacy, fees associated with surrogacy or expenses for procuring donated oocytes or sperm.”
Can part-time University of California workers use it?
Eligibility decides whether a benefit is worth taking a job for, so this is the line to confirm before anything else.
Part-time workers can qualify: employees appointed at least 50% of the time for a year or more, or who complete 1,000 hours in a rolling 12 months, get full benefits, and this limit applies to members of the UC Care or HealthSavings+ plans.
You have to be enrolled in a University of California medical plan to use the benefit, so its premiums and deductible are part of what the coverage costs you.
“You are eligible for Full Benefits if you: - Are appointed to work in a retirement-eligible position at least 50% of the time for a year or more”
“Complete 1,000 hours in a retirement-eligible position within a rolling 12-month period”
“Members enrolled in the UC Care or HealthSavings+ medical plans are provided a 2-cycle lifetime maximum benefit toward eligible expenses related to fertility treatment and related fertility medications.”
Six things to ask University of California before you count on it
A public benefits page is a summary. The plan document for your own plan and location is what the plan pays by.
- 1.What is the lifetime maximum, and do fertility drugs count toward it or have their own limit?
- 2.When does coverage start after my hire date, and how many hours a week do I need to keep it?
- 3.Do I need an infertility diagnosis, or prior authorization, before treatment is covered?
- 4.Which fertility clinics near me are in network, and what do I pay if mine is not?
- 5.What are the deductible, the coinsurance and the out-of-pocket maximum on the plan the benefit sits in?
- 6.Are egg freezing, donor eggs or sperm, genetic testing of embryos and embryo storage covered?
State insurance laws reach only fully-insured plans, and 67% of covered US workers are in self-funded employer plans, which set their own fertility benefits whatever the state requires. About 50% of employers with 500 or more workers now cover IVF. A large employer's plan is usually self-funded (80% of covered workers at large firms are in one), so what University of California chooses to cover matters more than your state's IVF insurance law.
University of California and IVF: common questions
Does University of California cover IVF?
Yes. University of California says it covers IVF for eligible US employees, up to 2 cycles. Part-time workers can qualify: employees appointed at least 50% of the time for a year or more, or who complete 1,000 hours in a rolling 12 months, get full benefits, and this limit applies to members of the UC Care or HealthSavings+ plans. The benefit is run by WINFertility. Read on University of California's own benefit pages on Oct 30, 2026.
How much IVF does University of California cover?
University of California states this limit: UC Care and HealthSavings+ medical plans: 2 cycles (Two treatment cycles per member for life, combined across IVF, GIFT and ZIFT, at 50% coinsurance after the deductible, in WINFertility's network. Fertility medications count toward the same maximum, and once two egg retrievals are done the benefit ends for all infertility services, IUI included.). For comparison, one IVF cycle in the US typically costs $23,000 to $30,000 all in.
Does University of California cover IVF for part-time employees?
Part-time workers can qualify: employees appointed at least 50% of the time for a year or more, or who complete 1,000 hours in a rolling 12 months, get full benefits, and this limit applies to members of the UC Care or HealthSavings+ plans. You have to be enrolled in a University of California medical plan to use it. Eligibility rules are the first thing to confirm with University of California before you count on the benefit.
Does University of California cover egg freezing?
No. University of California says elective egg freezing is not covered: "Elective fertility preservation is a non-covered service unless part of a covered IVF cycle or due to medical treatments that may indirectly or directly cause iatrogenic infertility."
How do I confirm what University of California covers?
Ask University of California's benefits center or WINFertility for the plan document (the summary plan description) for your own plan and location, and check the lifetime maximum, whether fertility drugs count toward it, whether a diagnosis or prior authorization is needed, and when coverage starts after you are hired. Benefits change each plan year, usually on January 1.
- Women’s health UC Health (UC PPO plans site) (University of California's own page)
- Eligibility UCnet (University of California's own page)
- Benefits for infertility treatment in UC’s non-Medicare medical plans (fact sheet) (University of California's own page)
- Adoption assistance UCnet (University of California's own page)