Our service members risk everything to protect this nation. Rep. Sara Jacobs is pushing for the IVF for Military Families Act, a proposal aimed at addressing the infertility struggles faced by military families. Today, May 19, 2025, is the deadline for policy recommendations to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order to expand IVF access and lower its costs. While the administration has explored unconventional methods to boost birth rates, such as baby bonuses, Jacobs suggests focusing on supporting military families who seek to grow their families.
I’m proud to represent San Diego, home to over 110,000 active-duty service members and their families. Many share stories of financial strain, lack of childcare, and infertility struggles. For example, senior-enlisted sailor Matt and his wife Jenny endured five miscarriages, seven frozen embryo transfers, and spending $80,000 to have two daughters via IVF.
Infertility rates among military families are double the national average, a troubling statistic given the sacrifices made by service members. Their lives are marked by intense physical training, demanding schedules, and frequent relocations, often during their prime reproductive years. Deployments and hazardous living conditions further impact fertility, yet TRICARE only covers fertility services for those with a service-related injury or illness.
This financial burden forces military families to choose between paying tens of thousands of dollars for IVF, forgoing children, or leaving the military. With the cost-of-living crisis affecting all, military families especially struggle with affordability. The lack of IVF coverage exacerbates retention challenges, undermining military readiness.
President Trump, who has referred to himself as the ‘Fertilization President,’ has expressed support for expanding IVF coverage. However, the IVF for Military Families Act, introduced alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth, has not gained support from Republican colleagues. Despite this, Jacobs remains optimistic, arguing that expanding TRICARE coverage could set a precedent for broader accessibility, pressuring private insurers to include fertility treatments in their plans.
Ultimately, Jacobs believes the country must recognize and value the sacrifices of service members by ensuring they have the means to build families. She calls on Trump to support her bill, emphasizing that this is a crucial step in supporting the military community.