In Emotional Letter, DOJ Group Urges OPM to Increase Fertility Coverage
A group of workers at the Department of Justice (DOJ) made an emotional last-minute pitch, pleading with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to increase insurance coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology programs.
The Department of Justice Gender Equality Network (DOJ GEN) sent a letter to OPM Acting Director Rob Shriver, as OPM heads into the final stretch of health insurance negotiations for the coming year.
DOJ GEN is asking OPM to mandate that the Federal Health Employees Benefit Program (FEHB) covers IVF medications and treatments in 2025.
“This step would further this Administration’s goal of increasing access to reproductive healthcare and align the federal government with the growing number of states with this mandate. It would also help agencies compete for talent with the private sector, where most of the largest employers now provide complete IVF coverage,” wrote DOJ GEN.
Emotional Stories
The letter contains testimony from three dozen DOJ GEN members describing the challenges they’ve had with fertility and the sacrifices they’ve had to make financially because of the lack of fertility coverage. Just one round of fertility could cost more than a new car.
“We had to drain our savings to cover the $45,000 to have my daughter—an expense that prevented us from buying a home. I had to sacrifice one dream, becoming a homeowner, for another, having a family,” wrote one government attorney, who is married to another government attorney.
“IVF is physically and emotionally one of the most grueling things I’ve been through—it is difficult enough without having to worry about choosing between your job and your family,” wrote another member.
“As a GS-15 attorney, I considered getting a part-time job at Starbucks to get better health coverage because they are known for providing fertility coverage for part-time employees with no waiting period. Dealing with the grief and stress of infertility and pregnancy loss is hard enough to manage without the added anxiety about how you’re going to be able to afford it,” wrote another.
“I’ve worked for DOJ for the better part of a decade, and I love my job, but I’ve considered leaving to work somewhere with fertility coverage,” wrote another.
It's important to note that some of these testimonials were written before FEHB plan year 2024, when OPM started requiring carriers to cover more IVF-related costs. At a minimum carriers must cover artificial insemination procedures and associated drugs, and the costs of IVF medications for three treatment cycles.
Even with those changes, DOJ GEN President Stacey Young told Federal News Network that out-of-pocket costs are still massive.
“Federal employees still need to pay for the lion’s share of IVF out of pocket, and that can be often impossible for employees to do,” Young said. “It’s an extremely expensive process.”
OPM will announce final rates and benefits for plan year 2025 in September.