Senate Passes Bennet-Backed Measure to Cover Reproductive Services for Injured Veterans

Covers Costs of Services Like IVF for Veterans with Injuries that Prevent them From Starting Families

Washington, D.C. - The Senate this week passed a bill that includes a provision to help veterans who suffered service-related injuries that make it difficult for them to start families to cover the costs of reproductive services. The measure ensures the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will provide assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF) to veterans. Currently, veterans who have service-related injuries that prevent them from having children naturally must cover the costs of IVF out of pocket, which can cost more than $12,000 per round.

"The sacrifices our veterans have made in service to our country manifest in any number of ways. For some, their injuries severely inhibit their ability to start a family," Bennet said. "This bill makes an important change to require the VA to cover the costs of reproductive services, giving these veterans a chance to fulfill their dream of having children."

Thousands of servicemembers and veterans who suffered from service-related injuries today struggle with fertility and reproductive health. While the VA offers some forms of fertility treatment and counseling, far too often these options fail to meet the needs of these seriously injured veterans. The VA is barred from providing IVF services because of an outdated law, forcing veterans to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket to address fertility issues from service-related injuries.

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill includes a provision based on a broader bill introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to provide reproductive services to servicemembers, veterans, and their families who have suffered catastrophic wounds in war that prevent them from starting families. Bennet is a cosponsor of that bill. The provision would make sure the VA provides assisted reproductive technology (ART) (of which IVF is the most popular and successful treatment) to veterans.