​Fertility Benefits Rapidly Rising as Employers Look to Attract and Support Talent

40% of U.S. Employers Now Offer Fertility Benefits

Brookfield, Wisconsin—Fertility and family-forming benefits are top of mind for many organizations as they reevaluate benefit packages for the year ahead. Whether it's to stay competitive in attracting and retaining key talent; save on health care costs; match benefits to diversity, equity and inclusion goals; or simply support the overall well-being of their workforce, these benefits are on the rise.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans has been tracking fertility and family-forming benefits over the past seven years. According to Employee Benefits Survey: 2022 Results, 40% of U.S. organizations currently offer fertility benefits (an increase from 30% in 2020).

Overall:

• 28% cover fertility medications (8% covered in 2016, 14% in 2018, 24% in 2020)
• 30% cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments (13% in 2016, 17% in 2018, 24% in 2020)
• 16% cover genetic testing to determine infertility issues (11% in 2018, 12% in 2020)
• 17% cover non-IVF fertility treatments (6% in 2016, 11% in 2018, 11% in 2020).

In 2016, only 2% of organizations covered egg harvesting/freezing services. That jumped to 6% in 2018, 10% in 2020 and even higher in 2022, with 14% reporting that they cover the benefit.

"Fertility clinics reported that egg harvesting and freezing happened more than usual over the pandemic because women were putting off having babies during the uncertainties," said Julie Stich, CEBS, Vice President of Content at the International Foundation. "We're now continuing to see a steady increase in family-forming benefits because of its high value by talent no matter their gender identity or relationship status. Providing these benefits helps nurture overall happiness and well-being."

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 with more employers offering paid adoption leave.

"Fertility services are a highly valued benefit for employees, often with a low cost impact for employers. Employees who have access to fertility benefits can actually have overall lower health care costs because they are making decisions with their doctors based on medical best practice, not on personal financial concerns."

Employee Benefits Survey: 2022 Results is the eighth 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/ebs2022.

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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.