Veterans with service-connected infertility now covered for treatment, adoption costs

Before the close of 2016, the 114th Congress passed the Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2017, which included a provision to extend new benefits to veterans with service-connected infertility. This legislation will provide veterans a comparable benefit with active-duty service members, who are already covered for such services by the Department of Defense.

The provision, added by Sen. Patty Murray, requires the VA to provide assisted reproductive technology (ART) services or cover the cost of adoption for veterans unable to have children due to injuries derived from military service.

Murray emphasized the importance of this issue for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who faced widespread use of improvised explosive devices and harsh deployment conditions, which have left thousands of veterans unable to conceive naturally.

“When we ask our young men and women to defend our country and our freedoms, we make a promise to take care of them when they return, no matter what,” said Murray. “On behalf of every military family, I’m going to keep fighting to make sure our country fulfills that promise, and that includes making sure our veterans with service-connected injuries get the resources and the support they deserve to realize their dreams of starting a family.”

The ART benefits enacted in the law authorize the VA to pay for certain medical treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, for veterans who are physically unable to conceive as a result of service-connected injuries. The provision also includes compensation for adoption expenses for eligible veterans.

“This provision was hard fought by Sen. Murray and is a victory for veterans who wish to start a family but suffered injuries in service that prevents that,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “It’s our duty to help them achieve that dream.”

The average cost to families in America seeking fertility treatments is around $12,000 for each attempt at a pregnancy. The cost of adoption in the United States can be as high as $30,000 to $40,000. That financial burden falls hard on veterans who cannot have their own children due to their sacrifices in military service.

“Now that the law has passed, we need to work with VA to ensure that it fully and swiftly implements rules, regulations and policies necessary to ensure this benefit is accessible to all veterans who qualify,” said Ilem. “Just as important, we need to work with Congress to ensure that sufficient new funding is provided to VA to cover the costs of this long overdue benefit without cutting other benefits or vital services promised to the men and women who served.”