Does the VA cover IVF?

“No, a Veteran's marital status is not a factor in determining their eligibility for VA ART/IVF benefits. If a Veteran has infertility causally related to their service-connected disability, they may be eligible regardless of sexual orientation or relationship status.”

“Yes, if the Veteran's partner is their lawful spouse and the Veteran is eligible for VA ART/IVF benefits. By law, VA can only cover eligible Veterans and their legal spouses. VA cannot provide services to an eligible Veteran's partner who is not their lawful spouse.”

“Infertility is a condition characterized by any of the following: The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy as established by your medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of these factors, or The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor eggs, donor sperm, or donor embryos in order to achieve pregnancy,”

“Veteran's lifetime benefits of up to 6 attempts to create embryos for up to three completed embryo transfer cycles.”

“ART includes, but is not limited to: in vitro fertilization (IVF); embryo transfer; gamete (egg and sperm) and embryo cryopreservation; genetic testing of the embryo(s);”

“Cryopreservation of sperm, eggs, and embryos Storage of cryopreserved sperm, eggs, and embryos until the death of the Veteran”

“Yes, Veterans may obtain donor eggs, sperm, or embryos for use in fertility treatments. However, VA does not cover the cost of obtaining donor eggs, sperm, or embryos.”

“The following procedures or services are not included in the medical benefits package: (1) Gestational surrogacy. (2) Costs of obtaining, transporting and storing donor specimens.”

“Fertility evaluation and some treatments are covered for all Veterans who use VA health care under the Medical Benefits Package regardless of service connection, relationship, or marital status.”

“Consultation for reversal of sterilization Intrauterine insemination (IUI) Sperm retrieval techniques for IUI Use of donor sperm for IUI, purchased by the Veteran”

“VA covers this if a necessary medical treatment is likely to prevent a Veteran from using their own eggs or sperm in the future. For example, this could happen during cancer treatment like chemotherapy. However, VA does not cover fertility preservation for delayed childbearing alone. Storage of eggs or sperm for fertility preservation is covered for 10 years under the benefit.”

“Most fertility treatment occurs outside VA, under authorized care in the community.”

“The health care provider managing the fertility care must prescribe needed fertility medications; either by providing a written prescription to the Veteran, faxing a prescription to the local VA pharmacy, or prescribing electronically (e.g., through eScrip for the VA pharmacy).”

“Veterans who are eligible for VA ART/IVF benefits are also eligible to receive an adoption reimbursement benefit. Adoption benefits include up to $2,000 per adopted child under the age of 18 years, with maximum reimbursement of $5,000 in any calendar year for adopting multiple children under the age of 18.”