Fertility coverage is a popular employer benefit. Could Alabama’s embryo ruling change that?

Alabama’s Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children could have an even greater impact on would-be parents in the state — and elsewhere if other states follow suit — than it would have just a few years ago.

Alabama’s Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children could have an even greater impact on would-be parents in the state — and elsewhere if other states follow suit — than it would have just a few years ago. That’s because more employers are providing fertility benefits to their workers, opening up the costly procedure to many more Americans. Already, several Alabama clinics have paused certain in vitro fertilization procedures in the wake of the ruling, prompting some patients to look for alternative care in other states. While it’s too soon to tell how the court decision will affect employer benefits, it’s possible that some companies will have to cover more travel expenses to enable their workers to get treatment in other states. One round of IVF can cost more than $20,000, and patients often undergo more than one cycle, according to FertilityIQ, an online site that provides education and reviews of doctors and clinics. But patients are increasingly getting help picking up the tab. Some 45% of large employers covered IVF. in 2023, up from 22% four years earlier, according to a survey by Mercer, a consulting firm. The majority of those with 500 or more workers don’t require a diagnosis of infertility, which expands the benefit to same-sex couples and single people who want children. However, most employers place limits on IVF coverage. Just over half have a lifetime benefit maximum, with the typical limit being $20,000. About a quarter have a limit on the number of cycles — typically three.