Infertility in the Military

Improvements in infertility treatments have made it more possible for couples dealing with infertility, to have a child. With the cost of artificial reproduction being so high, most of the time it is impossible for couples dealing with infertility to cover. Tricare covers infertility treatment to a certain extent. The following will highlight what may be covered and what is not.

Diagnostic services to identify physical illnesses or injuries to the reproductive system are covered for both men and women. Infertility treatments, corrective treatments and surgeries for women are also covered. However, correction of male infertility may be cost shared, which is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Therapies covered by Tricare include hormonal treatment, corrective surgery, antibiotics, administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or radiation therapy depending on the cause. These therapies are covered for both men and women. Tricare also provides medically necessary appropriate medical care for erectile dysfunction due to organic, vice psychological or psychiatric causes.

Exclusions are artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination (IUI), which in some cases might be cost shared, and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for women. Also excluded is reversal of surgical sterilization of both men and women.

While Tricare does not cover IVF, there are four military treatment facilities (MTFs) where IVF medical training programs are conducted. Beneficiaries who participate in these programs will be responsible for all MTF costs, but can expect reduced rates.

These military treatment facilities are:
Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.
Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA

To help you cope with infertility, Military OneSource offers free counseling services outside the military system. Call the toll-free hot line number 24/7 at 1-800-655-4545 or visit their website at www.militaryonesource.com.

If artificial reproduction technologies and infertility treatments are not a success, the next option is adoption. In which the U.S. Army can lend a helping hand. Options for adoption are to look outside the country or foster adopt within our own foster care system. Through the Child Welfare Information gateway at (http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_milita.cfm) you can find all facts and information on where the U.S. Military and DoD can help you and guide you when you are considering adoption. If you are considering foster adoption, go visit sites like (http://foster-child.adoption.com) and (http://www.adoptuskids.org) for more information.

Resources: www.tricare.mil, Triwest HealthMatters Issue 4: 2005, Child Welfare Information Gateway, www.adoption.com, www.adoptuskids.org.

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