Walmart teams up with Kindbody to cover fertility treatment under insurance plan

Walmart is collaborating with fertility start-up Kindbody to offer benefits under its insurance plan to workers struggling to conceive.

The nation’s largest retailer and private employer will introduce family-building benefits such as IVF and fertility testing regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

The employees will have access to more than 30 fertility clinics and IVF labs across the US and Kindbody’s clinics will be available to help eligible workers access Walmart’s surrogacy and adoption benefits.

Services include fertility assessments and education, fertility preservation, genetic testing, IVF and IUI.

Kindbody, a New-York based fertility clinic network and family-building benefits provider for employers, offers virtual and in-person care and aims to make fertility care more accessible and drive down healthcare costs.

“Providing access to high-quality health care is very important to us, and we’ve heard from our associates that improved access to fertility, surrogacy and adoption support is a priority for them and their families,” said Kim Lupo, senior vice president, Walmart Global Total Rewards.

“Through Kindbody, Walmart associates in every corner of the country will have access to a variety of services to aid in their family-planning journey.”

The offerings starting on November 1 builds on Walmart’s so-called Center of Excellence model, which provides benefits and coverage for certain heart, spine and joint surgeries and cancer treatments, in partnership with various healthcare providers.

The Walmart benefits include financial support of up to US$20,000, lifetime max, for eligible surrogacy and adoption expenses.

Walmart benefits will continue to include enhanced maternity and parental leave for qualified full-time hourly and salaried associates that allows birth moms to receive up to 16 weeks of paid time off. New parents, including adoptive and foster parents, also receive six weeks paid parental leave to bond with a new child.

Gina Bartasi, founder and chairwoman of Kindbody, said: “We’re incredibly honoured to become a Walmart Center of Excellence and provide high-quality care to Walmart associates, furthering our mission to make fertility and family-building care affordable and accessible for all.

“Our partnership with Walmart signals that fertility benefits have joined medical, dental, and vision as standard workplace benefits for leading employers.”