HR Guide to IVF Benefits: Companies that cover IVF and why this is vital for employers

At Fertifa, 60% of our patients are currently going through or thinking about going through fertility treatment. As one option, IVF has drastically changed the fertility landscape, with more than 12 million people in the world whose lives started via IVF. In case you missed it, the latest issue of The Economist Technology Quarterly is Catherine Brahic and Sacha Nauta's brilliant report on IVF and the fertility sector. The various articles cover the topics we talk and think about every day at , with some interesting stats around IVF

👉 Employers are aware of the value placed on access to fertility treatments. According to Mercer, 4 in 10 large employers include fertility benefits.

👉 Today, about a third of IVF cycles in America are done through clinics affiliated with Private Equity funds.

👉 IVF accounts for around 9% of live births in Denmark, the highest proportion in any country.

👉 A recent study in lower-income countries found that a single IVF cycle costs between 50% and 200% of people’s average annual income.

The report also reminds us that relationship status, sexuality and age are still significant barriers that can disqualify people from being allowed access to IVF, with countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic only allowing access to heterosexual couples.  

We started Fertifa because we knew firsthand the impact fertility challenges can have on an individual, but also how access was a huge problem when it came to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. In this article, we'll give an overview of some of the companies that cover IVF and what this looks like in action.

But first, what actually is IVF?

IVF is a fertility treatment and stands for in vitro fertilisation. It is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that involves fertilising an individual's egg with sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then transferred to the uterus through artificial insemination to grow and develop.

IVF is a common treatment for an infertility diagnosis. It can be used to treat a variety of fertility problems, including:

• blocked fallopian tubes
• low sperm count
• endometriosis
• unexplained infertility

IVF and artificial insemination can also be used to help people who have had their ovaries removed or who have a genetic condition that could be passed on to their child.

Eight companies that currently offer coverage for IVF treatment

We've put together a list of eight companies that offer varying ranges of support for IVF treatment. We've not included all of our Fertifa clients here, and this is by no means an exhaustive list too.

Remember, every company has a different budget when it comes to fertility support. As an employer, no matter how much you can offer, doing whatever it is that you can you can to help your employees in their fertility journeys is the most important thing 💜

This list has a range of companies that all have differing fertility policies and offer different types of support for their employees and their IVF journeys.

Bain Capital 🏆

The private investment firm, Bain Capital, works closely with its employees to provide extensive and inclusive benefits for all. Bain Capital are leading the way in the financial services world by making actionable and concrete changes to help create an inclusive and diverse workplace for their people. Fertifa supports Bain employees going through all reproductive health and family forming journeys. This includes fertility treatments like IVF!

Meta 🏆

Formerly known as Facebook, Meta now operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp among a group of other platforms. Meta's fertility benefits include financial support and an allowance for employees going through IVF.

Apple

Apple was one of the first companies to provide fertility benefits for their employees in the US and they have now extended their comprehensive fertility benefits to UK employees. The company's medical coverage plan covers fertility treatments, including IVF, as well as counselling and support to guide individuals through the difficult fertility journey.

Centrica 🏆

With over 20,000 employees, Centrica is one of the largest energy companies in the UK. They are also a leader in the energy and natural gas sectoring with offering benefits plans for fertility and family forming to its employees. Through Fertifa, Centrica offers financial support and assistance for IVF specifically through a lifetime allowance allocated to employees.

Osborne Clarke 🏆

The global law firm based in London offers great employee benefits as part of its mission to foster a supportive community and workplace. The Fertifa in-house clinical team, look after all Osborne Clarke employees with unlimited 121 clinical advice and support throughout their reproductive health journeys. We cover men's health challenges, menopause support, fertility treatment and family-forming journeys for all of their employees.

Slaughter and May

Another leading law firm, Slaughter and May joins its competitors in offering IVF and other infertility treatments through its benefits plans for employees. Similar to Meta and Bain Capital, Slaughter and May offers a specific allowance for its employees towards fertility consultations and IVF specifically.

Spotify

Founded in Sweden, Spotify has always been at the forefront of offering fertility benefits in the workplace. As part of this, the company offers an allowance for IVF and other fertility treatments to its employees. This includes unlimited fertility benefits as long as an employee is with the company.

Google

Another large tech giant, Google rivals its competitors with outstanding and comprehensive fertility benefits. The company offers its employees an allowance for treatments. This includes full coverage for medications and a lifetime maximum allowance towards IVF specifically.

Why should companies offer financial assistance for IVF?

Offering fertility benefits as a type of employee benefit is one of the most meaningful and concrete ways for a company to help support their employees. Fertility coverage can be hugely expensive, overwhelming and exhausting to go through. It can trickle into every aspect of a person's life, including their working life. And this is especially the case in the absence of workplace support.

To attract and retain top talent: Infertility is becoming more of a common problem in our world and a recent study by the World Health Organisation found infertility impacting 1 in 6 people globally. These numbers are just too big to ignore. By offering financial assistance for IVF, companies can show their employees that they truly care about their wellbeing and supporting their employees through some of life's most challenging moments. This can be a valuable recruiting and retention tool, especially in competitive industries!

To improve company cultures and productivity: Fertility challenges can be a very stressful and anxious time for couples and individuals. By implementing the right kind of support for employees going through fertility treatments like IVF, companies can make a big and concrete impact on helping to reduce the stress that their employees may be feeling. This in itself has a significant impact on company culture. It shows employees that they can bring their full selves to work, and that things like fertility challenges aren't something to be embarrassed about or hide. It helps create an open culture, where diversity and inclusivity is championed.

To promote diversity and inclusion: Infertility can impact people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. IVF can be a great option for single parents, LGBTQ+ and same-sex couples, and older people. By offering financial assistance for IVF, companies can help to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Not every path to parenthood will look the same. Implementing support for IVF and wider reproductive health challenges reflects that.

If you are considering offering financial assistance for IVF to your employees or any other fertility benefits, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Make sure that the benefit is affordable for your company and from there decide how much financial assistance you will provide and what criteria employees must meet to qualify for the benefit. Also, developing a plan for how the benefit will be implemented and made aware to employees is important. Read our guide on why fertility benefits matter.

Who can benefit from IVF?

Single parents

IVF can be a successful option for single people who want to have a child. The process involves retrieving eggs from the  ovaries and fertilising them with sperm in a lab. The resulting embryos are then implanted in the  uterus. Single individuals can use donor sperm or egg cells to assist them in their fertility journeys.

LGBTQ+ and same-sex couples

IVF can also be a successful option for LGBTQ+ couples. The process is similar to that for single people, and the sperm or egg cells can come from a donor or from one of the partners in the couple. Couples that also choose to pursue a family through surrogacy services can benefits when companies have support in place for legal fees and other costs of surrogacy.

Offering surrogacy assistance and helping to cover adoption costs as part of workplace benefits plans is important to be inclusive of all potential parents. Everyone's paths to parenthood are different and including all options as part of family-building benefits should be taken into consideration when forming your company's benefits policy.

Older people or couples with fertility issues

IVF can be a successful option for older people or couples who have fertility issues. The process can help to increase the chances of pregnancy, even in cases where natural conception is not possible.

Genetic screening for embryos 

IVF can also be used to screen embryos for genetic abnormalities. This can be helpful for couples who are at risk of passing on genetic diseases to their children.

-

If you're looking to put fertility support and benefits in place, book in a call with our team who can talk you through how to work with Fertifa 💜