## Congress Fails to Expand IVF Coverage for Military Members in NDAA
WASHINGTON — Despite months of debate and advocacy, the final version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will not expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for active-duty military members and their families. The House-Senate compromise, released this weekend, omits provisions from both chambers that sought to broaden TRICARE’s coverage of assisted reproductive technologies. Currently, TRICARE only covers IVF for troops whose infertility is directly linked to a service-related illness or injury.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) expressed disappointment in a statement, citing Republican opposition as the reason for the exclusion. She highlighted the sacrifices made by service members and emphasized that they should not have to forgo the right to start a family. Murray also noted the broader context of the NDAA negotiations, stating that Democrats fought to prevent the inclusion of measures restricting women’s reproductive freedom.
Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees initially included provisions to expand IVF access in their respective versions of the NDAA. However, these differing proposals ultimately failed to reconcile during the final stages of the bill’s passage. The 1,813-page compromise document, released Saturday, acknowledges the omission of IVF expansion but offers no explanation.
Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Organization, echoed the disappointment, stating that service members continue to lack basic healthcare for infertility despite experiencing higher rates than the general population. Resolve pledged continued advocacy for comprehensive infertility treatments for military personnel and veterans.
The debate surrounding IVF access gained national attention earlier this year following an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that classified frozen embryos as children under state law. This decision led to the temporary closure of all IVF clinics in the state until protective legislation was passed. In response, Senate Democrats attempted to introduce a bill in June establishing nationwide protections for IVF, including expanded military coverage, but faced Republican opposition. Subsequent attempts in September to pass the proposals via unanimous consent were also blocked.
In October, more than a dozen military and veterans service organizations urged Congress to include IVF expansion in the NDAA, arguing that military families deserve health care benefits comparable to those offered by top commercial plans and federal employees. They emphasized that TRICARE should meet the same standards enjoyed by federal employees and members of Congress, who will gain access to comprehensive IVF coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program starting in 2025.
A letter from Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA) further pressed for inclusion of IVF expansion, highlighting the challenges faced by service members who often spend their prime reproductive years in hazardous conditions and away from partners. They criticized the potential hypocrisy of Congress providing itself with high-quality fertility benefits while denying such coverage to service members.
Conversely, Representatives Matt Rosendale (R-MT) and Josh Brecheen (R-OK) opposed expanding IVF access, citing concerns about its effectiveness, ethical implications, and potential impact on the national debt.
The NDAA is expected to be voted on in the coming weeks before Congress adjourns for the holiday break. The failure to include IVF expansion leaves this crucial healthcare issue unresolved for military families.