40% of US employers offered fertility benefits in 2022- survey

Forty per cent of US employers have introduced fertility benefits in their offerings last year, up from 30 per cent in 2020, a survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans has revealed.

The survey, which examined benchmarking data from more than 500 US businesses, has found 28 per cent of respondents said they cover fertility medications, up from 24 per cent in 2020 and a notable increase from 14 per cent in 2018 and eight per cent in 2016.

When it came to IVF, 30 per cent said they cover the treatments, compared to 24 per cent in 2020, 17 per cent in 2018 and 13 per cent in 2016.

Additionally, 16 per cent of employers said they cover genetic testing to determine infertility issues, up from 12 per cent in 2020 and 11 per cent in 2018 and 17 per cent said they cover non-IVF fertility treatments, compared to 11 per cent in 2020 and 2018 and six per cent in 2016.

The findings have also shown that employers are increasingly covering egg harvesting and freezing services, with 14 per cent covering such services in 2022 compared to six per cent in 2018 and only two per cent in 2016.

“Fertility services are a highly valued benefit for employees, often with a low cost impact for employers,” said Julie Stich, vice-president of content at the IFEBP, in a statement.

“Employees who have access to fertility benefits can actually have overall lower health-care costs because they are making decisions with their doctors based on medical best practice, not on personal financial concerns.

“Fertility clinics reported that egg harvesting and freezing happened more than usual over the pandemic because women were putting off having babies during the uncertainties.”

She added: “We’re now continuing to see a steady increase in family-forming benefits because of its high value by talent no matter their gender identity or relationship status.”

Starbucks, Walmart, Apple, Spotify, Hootsuite and LinkedIn are among the biggest employers offering fertility benefits.

Data shows feedback for the fertility benefits has been overwhelmingly positive, with Hootsuite’s employee-engagement score jumping from 66 per cent to 81 per cent after the introduction of the scheme.