Fertility and Adoption Benefit Offerings in the Time of COVID

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2021

Brookfield, Wisconsin—As employers across the United States examine and modify benefit offerings in response to the pandemic, fertility benefits are no exception. The pandemic has impacted families planning for a new addition in different ways, but one thing is constant—the need for employees to feel supported, both emotionally and financially, through this major life event.

The number of organizations offering fertility benefits has increased over the past five years. According to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (Employee Benefits Survey: 2020 Results), 30% of U.S. organizations offer fertility benefits. Overall,

• 24% cover fertility medications (8% covered in 2016, 14% in 2018)
• 24% cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments (13% in 2016, 17% in 2018)
• 14% cover visits with counselors (e.g., geneticists, surrogacy, etc.) (4% in 2016, 8% in 2018)
• 12% cover genetic testing to determine infertility issues (up slightly from 11% in 2018)
• 11% cover non-IVF fertility treatments (6% in 2016, 11% in 2018).

In 2016, only 2% of organizations covered egg harvesting/freezing services. That jumped to 6% in 2018 and even higher in 2020, with 10% reporting that they cover the benefit.

"Fertility clinics are reporting that egg harvesting and freezing happened more than usual in 2020 because women were putting off having babies, and even dating, during the uncertainties of the pandemic," said Julie Stich, CEBS, VP of Content at the International Foundation. "Fertility benefits can be highly valued by talent no matter their gender identity or relationship status."

Stich noted that offering fertility benefits to all employees, including LGBTQ+ and single prospective parents, is a positive way to create a more inclusive workplace.

For families looking to adopt, paid/unpaid leave and financial assistance are benefit offerings trending up over the past few years.

"More employers are supporting employees as they grow their families because they recognize that providing these benefits helps nurture overall happiness and well-being," said Stich.

Employee Benefits Survey: 2020 Results is the seventh comprehensive benefits benchmarking survey conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The report covers pension and retirement benefits, health care benefits, voluntary benefits, paid leave, work/life benefits and more.

The full report is available at www.ifebp.org/BenefitsSurvey2020.

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The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans is the premier educational organization dedicated to providing the diverse employee benefits community with objective, solution-oriented education, research and information to ensure the health and financial security of plan beneficiaries worldwide. The Foundation has more than 31,000 multiemployer, corporate and public sector members representing over 25 million lives. For additional information, visit www.ifebp.org.

*Members of the media can obtain a copy of the report by contacting [email protected].