For military families facing fertility treatment questions, Tricare offers some of the best diagnostic care available at little to no cost. Bloodwork, hormone testing, imaging—these are all covered. The system is designed to identify reproductive issues early, so you can make the best decisions for your future.
But when it comes to advanced fertility treatments like IVF, IUI, or egg freezing, the options are more limited. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck—it just means you need the right game plan.
Here’s how military families can make the most of Tricare’s fertility benefits, navigate waitlists, and find support for treatment options that go beyond what’s covered.
Take full advantage of what Tricare covers
Before jumping into treatment, you need answers, and Tricare’s coverage for diagnostic testing is one of its biggest strengths.
- Hormonal therapy for conditions like PCOS
- Hormone testing and bloodwork to evaluate reproductive health
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to assess Fallopian tube function
- Pelvic ultrasounds and imaging for endometriosis, PCOS, or fibroids
- Semen analysis to check for male-factor infertility
- Surgical procedures for fibroids, cysts, or endometriosis
This level of early testing and intervention gives military families a head start on understanding their fertility—and a foundation for making informed treatment decisions.
Where IVF is offered
If you need IVF through the military, your zip code might determine your chances. Several military hospitals offer IVF at a significantly reduced rate, often at half the cost of civilian clinics. If you qualify, this could save your family thousands of dollars per cycle.
Here’s where you’ll find military-run IVF programs:
- Madigan Army Medical Center (WA)
- Naval Medical Center San Diego (CA)
- San Antonio Military Medical Center (TX)
- Tripler Army Medical Center (HI)
- Walter Reed Medical Center (MD)
- Womack Army Medical Center (NC)
Explore fertility grants and additional support
Fertility treatment costs can add up quickly, but military families have access to unique financial assistance that many civilians don’t. Several organizations are dedicated to supporting service members, veterans, and their families through grants, scholarships, and financial aid programs specifically designed for fertility treatments.What options do military families have?
These resources aren’t just for those with military-related infertility—they’re open to many military families who need help covering the cost of treatments like IVF, egg freezing, or adoption.
Here are some key organizations that offer financial assistance:
- The Bob Woodruff Foundation – Provides grants for veterans whose infertility is linked to service-related injuries, toxic exposure, or medical treatments. Their Veterans in Vitro Initiative (VIVA) is designed to help military families access fertility care when Tricare falls short.
- The Cade Foundation – Offers Family Building Grants that help cover the costs of fertility treatments or adoption. The grants are open to military families and provide up to $10,000 toward treatments like IVF, egg freezing, and surrogacy.
- The Baby Quest Foundation – Provides direct financial assistance for IVF, egg freezing, embryo transfers, and other reproductive treatments. Military applicants are given special consideration, and grants typically range from $2,000 to $16,000 per cycle.
- The Military Family Building Coalition (MFBC) – Advocates for better fertility coverage in the military and provides education, guidance, and financial resources to help service members and spouses navigate treatment options.
- Parental Hope – Offers completely free IVF cycles through partnerships with fertility clinics. While not exclusively for military families, service members and spouses are eligible to apply.
How to Get Started: Many of these grants have application deadlines and require essays or medical documentation, so it’s important to research them early. Some organizations, like Baby Quest, have multiple application cycles per year. If you’re considering fertility treatment, apply for multiple grants to increase your chances of securing financial support.
The bottom line
For some military families, private health insurance can be the key to unlocking fertility coverage that Tricare doesn’t offer. While not every policy includes assisted reproductive technology (ART), an increasing number of employers are adding fertility benefits to their health plans.
Many major U.S. companies offer comprehensive fertility benefits, covering services like IVF, IUI, egg freezing, and embryo storage. If you are employed outside the military, review your company’s health benefits package to see if fertility coverage is included.
For families where one spouse is a federal employee, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program also offers some plans that provide fertility coverage, depending on the provider.
Some military families take a strategic approach to fertility planning by switching to private insurance for a year to cover treatments like IVF. This can mean:
- Timing fertility treatments around open enrollment periods to maximize insurance benefits.
- Using Tricare for testing and diagnostic procedures while relying on private insurance for assisted reproductive technology.
- Exploring employer-sponsored fertility benefits that offer financial support, such as reimbursement programs or direct partnerships with fertility clinics.
If private insurance is an option, it’s worth investigating before paying out of pocket for treatment. Many families have saved tens of thousands of dollars by leveraging civilian insurance alongside Tricare’s diagnostic coverage.
What this means for families trying to conceive
Tricare doesn’t cover everything, but military families are still finding ways to make fertility treatment work.
- Use Tricare’s covered testing to your full advantage. It saves thousands in upfront costs.
- Get on a military IVF waitlist early if you’re considering treatment through an MTF.
- Look into military-specific fertility grants. They exist for a reason.
- Compare private insurance plans to see if a switch makes financial sense.
The military community has always found ways to support each other, fight for better policies, and navigate challenges together. Infertility is no exception. The best thing you can do? Advocate for yourself, explore every option, and know that you have a network ready to help.
Tricare’s fertility policies are changing all the time. Stay informed, plan ahead, and push for expanded coverage, because military families deserve it.