Family Building 101

Family building is an inclusive term used to refer to the various ways a modern family can be built or formed. This includes the actions or steps taken by individuals or couples with the goal of having children. Family building includes trying to conceive naturally, the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF), adoption, surrogacy, or other means of growing ones family.

According to the Blue Star Families 2021 Military Family Lifestyle Survey 67% of military-connected families struggle with family building. The survey cites fertility challenges, miscarriages, and hormonal imbalances as top causes of family-building struggles. Challenges to family building include the military lifestyle (time apart, PCS, lacking continuity of healthcare), lack of insurance coverage, associated out-of-pocket expenses, and infertility. To learn more view the Blue Star Families Report here: https://bluestarfam.org/research/mfls-survey-results-2021/.

According to the TRICARE website the following services are covered:

• Diagnostics and treatment of an injury or illness of the male or female reproductive systems.

• Erectile dysfunction if there is a physical cause.

• Diagnostics services for semen analysis, hormone evaluation, chromosomal studies, immunologic studies, special and sperm function tests, and bacteriologic investigation.

• Medically necessary coital conception, meaning medicated or timed intercourse.

TRICARE does NOT cover:

• Artificial or intrauterine insemination.

• Costs related to donors or semen banks.

• Reversal of tubal ligation or vasectomy, unless medically necessary.

• Non-coital reproductive procedures, services, or supplies, including: in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, or tubal embryo transfer.