news VA to broaden coverage of infertility benefits for veterans

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Alongside military members, now veterans will also see broader coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The update from VA comes after DoD announced plans to update TRICARE’s policy on IVF, in effect giving access to active-duty service members who are either unmarried or in same-sex marriages.
“DoD recently determined that it will change its policy regarding IVF benefits, and the legal authority governing VA makes DoD’s policy change relevant to VA’s policy,” VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement to Federal News Network. “To fulfill VA’s commitment to aiding veterans in starting families, VA will continue to review potential changes to our policy, taking into account any changes to DoD’s policy.”
Veterans can also get other infertility treatment benefits through VA’s health care program, including assessments and counseling, lab tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, surgical correction, medications, artificial insemination, egg freezing and sperm cryopreservation.
Leaders at the National Organization for Women–New York City (NOW-NYC) — the organization that first filed the lawsuits against DoD and VA — said while they commend the plans to remove requirements and make IVF coverage more accessible, it’s not the end of the road.
“As such, NOW-NYC will continue to challenge both DoD and VA to remove all unlawful and prohibitive restrictions on IVF care,” NOW-NYC said in a statement.
“The obstacles really are very difficult,” Ossorio said. “We have to make sure that this eligibility requirement of serious illness and serious injury related to duty is changed. Otherwise, it’s policy not in practice, but mostly only in words. Our service members deserve more.”
Read more at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defe...overage-of-infertility-benefits-for-veterans/
 
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