Changes to Assisted Reproductive Technology Benefit for Active Duty Service Members

Monday, June 17, 2024

The Department of Defense has expanded its assisted reproductive technology (ART) benefit made available to active duty service members (ADSM) under the Supplemental Health Care Program (SHCP). Regardless of gender or marital status, ART services are now available to ADSMs who have sustained a serious or severe illness or injury while on active duty that led to the loss of their natural procreative ability. Benefits also may be authorized for the qualifying service member’s TRICARE-enrolled spouse or unmarried partner or TRICARE-enrolled third-party gestational carrier if services are for the benefit of the qualifying ADSM. Note: ADSMs must have been active for over 30 days and must remain active throughout the ART procedure. Refer to TRICARE Operations Manual, Chapter 17, Section 3 for complete benefit details.

ART services include sperm retrieval; egg retrieval; in-vitro fertilization (IVF); intrauterine insemination (IUI); blastocyst implantation; and cryopreservation and storage of eggs, sperm, and embryos.

All ART services require a referral from the ADSM’s primary care manager or other provider significantly involved in the care of the qualifying condition. 

All egg retrieval cycles, sperm retrievals, IUI cycles and IVF/embryo transfer cycles must be pre-authorized. We have updated our ART letter of attestation available on our Letters of Attestation page. You can submit HNFS’ ART LOA with your authorization request in lieu of medical documentation.

For information on authorization submissions visit our Submit a Request page. Find more information about TRICARE’s ART benefit by visiting the Defense Health Agency's Assisted Reproductive Technology page.