Fertility and family-building benefits for employees

More employers are offering fertility and family-building benefits than ever before. Companies recognize the need to support employees with the complexities of their parenthood journeys. 

Reasons include improved recruitment and retention, more inclusivity, better productivity and presenteeism. Integrating fertility and family-building benefits with an existing health plan can also save money and reduce stress.

Why fertility and family-building benefits matter

Data from The Cleveland Clinic shows that 20% of women ages 15-49 experience primary infertility, an inability to get pregnant. Another 5% struggle with secondary infertility, which occurs when a person cannot get pregnant again after a successful birth(s).¹ 

An estimated 88% of employees said they would change jobs to get fertility benefits. More than 60% of employees with fertility benefits say they feel increased loyalty within a positive workplace culture.²

Types of fertility treatments and family-building support

The International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP) found that 42% of U.S. employers offered fertility and adoption benefits in 2024.³ Benefits varied, but typically included:

• Fertility medications (32%)
• In-vitro fertilization (IVF) (32%)
• Adoption (20%)
• Genetic testing (19%)
• Non-IVF treatments (19%)
• Egg harvesting and/or freezing (16%)
  

A study from consulting firm Mercer showed that employers are also increasing benefits for male sexual health. About 35% of companies offer male fertility testing, while another 20% cover sperm freezing.⁴

Fertility and Family-Building solution from Highmark

Highmark continues to expand our integrated benefits portfolio with optional programs, including our new Fertility and Family-Building solution. Our solution provides access to medical care and care navigation, as well as emotional and mental health support.

It’s an offering that simplifies a complex experience while saving costs. The solution delivers on a promise of health equity for all, including non-traditional families. The right support can make a positive difference in productivity and presenteeism, as well as recruitment and retention.

National fertility provider network with 24/7 nurse access

Highmark’s Fertility and Family-Building solution extends expert clinical support throughout the entire journey to parenthood. Members can choose from a network of high-quality, cost-efficient providers featuring accredited, double-board-certified reproductive specialists. Dedicated nurse care access is also available every day, around the clock, including holidays.

Members get help navigating complex fertility and family-building decisions — simplifying an otherwise burdensome emotional and logistical path forward. Personalized fertility and family-building services include:

• Preconception and fertility tracking
• At-home male testing
• Genetic testing
• Fertility preservation
• Treatment guidance and fertility medications
• Behavioral health care and nutritional support
• Surrogacy and adoption resources and referrals
  

Improved fertility outcomes improve total cost of care

Highmark’s Fertility and Family-Building solution achieves improved outcomes through a combination of strategies. Most importantly, 90% of our members are within 30 minutes of a leading reproductive specialist. 

Immediate access to expert nurse care advocates adds support for questions and health conditions requiring medical intervention. The final piece is the use of cost-effective, evidence-based treatment protocols and treatment pricing bundles.

Compared to national averages,^{5 6} those using our solution experience:

• 52% lower instances of IVF multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)
• 31% higher live birth rates
• 28% higher pregnancy rate per IVF
• 23% lower miscarriage rates
• 22% more healthy pregnancies
  

The bottom line equates to four to six times increased return on investment (ROI) due to reduced total cost of care and more efficient medication utilization. Our solution also results in fewer pregnancy complications and fewer babies requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care.

Convenient digital-first experience eases journey to parenthood

The Highmark Fertility and Family-Building solution provides an elevated, one-stop digital portal for clinical support and care coordination. Top features include:

• Smooth and efficient registration via a custom app experience for each member’s personal journey.
• National provider network with easy searchability by location and specialty.
• Intuitive health tracking for fertility cycles and pregnancy symptoms.
• Instant access to clinical support, with one-click nurse call for urgent questions.
• Convenient in-app phone/video chat scheduling with nurse care advocates.
• Tailored educational resources with personalized information for natural conception, fertility treatment, and surrogate or adoption journeys.
  

It’s easy to implement our Fertility and Family-Building solution into your employee health benefits plan. Current Highmark Health Plan members undergoing fertility treatment will have uninterrupted continuity of care with the new solution.

We will continue to expand access to this solution, adding new markets in 2026. Contact your employee health care insurance broker or Highmark account manager to learn more.

_{All references to "Highmark" in this communication are references to Highmark Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and/or to one or more of its affiliated Blue companies.}