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 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.
I spoke with Julie Stich, VP of Content at the Foundation, more about this. She said 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.
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.
Julie 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.
| Year | Offered Paid Adoption Leave | Offered Unpaid Adoption Leave | Offered Financial Assistance With Adoption |
| 2014 | 16% | 26% | 12% |
| 2016 | 19% | 24% | 17% |
| 2018 | 21% | 26% | 17% |
| 2020 | 27% | 25% | 17% |
| 2022 | 34% | 22% | 19% |
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.
Anne Patterson
Associate Director of PR & Communications
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