Military Family-Building Benefits and Eligibility

TRICARE: General beneficiaries are excluded from ART. Broader ART access appears only through the severe injury exception.

VA: All Veterans in VA health care can access fertility evaluation, but ART/IVF requires service-connected infertility.

TRICARE: Generally excluded for most beneficiaries, with a narrow severe injury exception.

VA: Covered for Veterans in VA care as part of the standard fertility-services pathway.

TRICARE: Not broadly covered. Access is tied to the severe injury exception or reduced-cost MTF availability.

VA: Available only when infertility is tied to a VBA-adjudicated service-connected disability.

TRICARE: Donor eggs, sperm, and embryos may be used, but obtaining them is out-of-pocket.

VA: Donor materials may be used, but the cost of obtaining them is not covered.

TRICARE: No broad cryopreservation benefit exists for the general beneficiary population.

VA: Available in the VA ART pathway and in some medical-preservation cases, but not as a broad readiness benefit.

TRICARE: No broad TRICARE surrogacy benefit exists.

VA: The VA does not authorize surrogacy coverage.

TRICARE: TRICARE does not list an adoption reimbursement tied to fertility benefits.

VA: Qualifying Veterans can receive up to $2,000 per child and $5,000 per year.

TRICARE: Only 8 military facilities currently offer ART at reduced cost.

VA: VA fertility care does not rely on the MTF ART system.

TRICARE: Qualifying members can seek reimbursement for eligible ART costs after March 8, 2024, but travel remains a burden.

VA: There is no broad VA fertility travel benefit. Travel support is case-specific, not a universal pathway.

TRICARE: The severe injury exception can include an unmarried partner, but the general ART exclusion remains.

VA: VA fertility services can be used by married, unmarried, or single Veterans, depending on the service category.