New Law Mandates Fertility Care for Active-Duty Military and Adds Adoption Aid for Vets: Up to 3 IVF Cycles Covered

The new Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 is a big deal for military and veteran families looking to start or grow a family. Simply put, this legislation mandates that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) significantly expand coverage for fertility treatments, counseling, and preservation services, while also creating a new adoption assistance program for eligible veterans.

The Fertility Blueprint for Active Duty

If you’re currently serving, this bill changes the game for reproductive care. The DoD must now offer fertility treatment and counseling to any active-duty service member, their spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate (SEC. 102). Crucially, this care cannot be denied based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. For those needing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), the bill covers up to three complete egg retrieval procedures, with no limit on the number of embryo transfers. If the service member can’t provide their own genetic material, the DoD must cover or reimburse the reasonable cost of donated material.

Beyond immediate treatment, the bill addresses future needs. If a service member suffers an injury or illness on active duty that might impair their fertility, the DoD must now establish procedures to collect and preserve reproductive material as soon as it’s medically safe (SEC. 103). Furthermore, before deploying to a combat zone or a hazardous assignment (including those involving PFAS exposure), active-duty members must be offered free retrieval, testing, freezing, and storage of their genetic material. The military covers all these costs until one year after the member separates or retires (SEC. 104). After that, the individual pays for storage or transfers the material elsewhere. This is a massive step in protecting the family planning options of those in high-risk roles.

VA Coverage: From Service to Separation

For veterans, the bill is equally transformative. It officially adds fertility treatment and counseling to the VA’s definition of “medical services” (SEC. 201), meaning these services are now recognized as a standard part of veteran healthcare. Eligible veterans enrolled in the VA system must be provided fertility treatment, covering everything from preservation and artificial insemination to IVF (up to three retrievals) and gamete donation (SEC. 202). This means that whether your infertility is service-connected or not, the VA is now mandated to provide this care.

However, here’s the fine print: If you are a veteran who typically pays a copay for VA hospital care or medical services, you will still be required to pay that same copayment amount for these new fertility treatments (SEC. 202). While the bill expands access, it doesn't eliminate existing cost-sharing structures for those veterans. Also, the VA is required to create a formal outreach and training program to ensure both veterans and VA providers know exactly what is covered and who is eligible—a critical step given the complexity of these new benefits.

Adoption Assistance and Seamless Transitions

Recognizing that family planning extends beyond medical treatment, the bill establishes a new adoption assistance benefit for covered veterans (SEC. 203). The VA can now provide financial assistance to help veterans adopt one or more children, capped at a limit set by the VA Secretary that roughly equates to the cost of three adoptions. This assistance is also protected from discrimination based on sex, orientation, or marital status.

Finally, the legislation aims to fix the bureaucratic handoff between the DoD and the VA. Both departments must now coordinate closely, sharing best practices and ensuring a seamless transition of care for service members moving to veteran status (SEC. 106, 204). This means if you’re undergoing fertility treatment while on active duty and get your separation orders, the VA staff must actively help you find a provider and ensure your care continues without interruption.