Employees are traveling abroad to afford fertility treatments, but at what cost?

The need for U.S. companies to add comprehensive fertility and family building benefits is growing as infertility becomes an increasingly prevalent concern with 1 in 6 individuals impacted globally, making the condition more common than asthma and diabetes. In addition, 63% of LGBTIA+ individuals will rely on reproductive technology, surrogacy, foster care, or adoption to become parents, making the need for comprehensive fertility and family building coverage more essential than ever.

Unfortunately, without insurance the steep price tag of treatments like egg freezing and IVF, ranging from $21,000 to a staggering $110,000, often leaves hopeful parents taking out personal loans, adding second jobs, or depleting their savings. According to a survey from Progyny of 1,000 LGBTQ+ respondents, of those trying to expand their families, 77% shared that they are worried about the cost of doing so. This financial burden has driven some to seek fertility treatments abroad, presenting both potential health risks and demonstrating that organizations in the U.S. are not doing enough to support their employees’ desires to grow their families.

High price tags influence individuals to travel aboard for fertility treatments

Medical tourism is not new: it is relatively common for individuals to travel abroad to obtain dental treatment and cosmetic surgery, but the sudden increase of individuals traveling abroad for fertility treatment is alarming. Over the last three years the Medical Tourism Association has observed a 20% rise in patients seeking fertility treatment abroad.

The risks associated with medical tourism include exposure to infectious diseases post-surgery (specifically with fertility treatments, the risk goes up for bloodstream infections such as hepatitis B, C, and HIV), heightened chances of blood clots due to air travel, and unpredictable care quality in other countries. The U.S. has a high quality of care, but licenses and credentialing vary from each country and you’re more likely to be exposed to counterfeit medicines and lower quality devices depending on where you receive treatment. A reminder that should someone suffer from a short or long-term illness and need extended care from one of these complications, it will then fall on their current employer and their health care plan to pay the bill.

Employers can mitigate their employees going abroad by offering comprehensive benefits

To curb the rising trend of medical tourism for fertility treatments, and the multiple risks it poses, employers must reevaluate and reshape their health care offerings. While a growing number of employers are introducing fertility and family building benefits (in 2022 43% of large employers offered health plans that covered some form of fertility treatment, up from 36% in 2021), the upswing in medical tourism highlights the demand is still unmet.

Even among companies that provide these benefits, some may have limitations like dollar caps or require a discriminatory ‘medical diagnosis of infertility’ (6-12 months of unprotected, unsuccessful heterosexual sex) to access treatment. If your employees are seeking fertility treatment abroad – or any medical treatment, for that matter – there is clearly a problem with the health care that is being offered. Furthermore, limited and inequitable access to care has been known to lead to less productivity in the workplace, and complications in treatment can result in more missed days from work.

By embracing comprehensive and inclusive fertility and family building benefits, companies can affirm their commitment to employees’ holistic health, foster loyalty to their company, and ultimately pave the way for a brighter, healthier, and more fulfilled future for all.

Providing employer-sponsored fertility and family building benefits widely in the U.S. is possible and a step toward strengthening employee support and wellbeing. In fact, several prominent lawyers and academics are currently advocating for more accessible health plans that comprehensively cover fertility and family building benefits in the U.S.

Related: 40% of employers now offering fertility benefits, up from 30% in 2020

While navigating within a foreign country’s health care system presents its own challenges, it is also possible to provide quality benefits abroad that could lead to a rise in the standard of fertility care globally. Universally providing a benefit that includes a customized plan design, an active and accredited network of physicians, and detailed reporting with outcomes collection will ensure that anyone, no matter where they reside, is getting the treatment that will achieve optimal outcomes.

Cassandra Pratt, SVP of People at Progyny