A bill known as the Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act was introduced by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus. 

If it passes, the bill would allow TRICARE to cover Assisted Reproductive Technology for all active-duty service members, including the Reserve and National Guard) and their dependents. This applies to all troops regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation or marital status.

“Answering the call to serve often means making a great number of sacrifices for your country. Being able to start a family should not be one of them. My bill, the Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, removes current barriers in TRICARE and helps ensure that all service members can access the fertility care they deserve to start a family,” said Strickland.

Under this Act, legal barriers to infertility care for active-duty service members would be removed, including those who are single, those in same-sex relationships, and those with unexplained infertility.  

“This Act would remove legal barriers to infertility care for active-duty service members that render many of them ineligible for coverage, including single service members, servicemembers in same-sex partnerships, and servicemembers impacted by unexplained infertility,” said Karla Torres, Senior Human Rights Counsel, Center for Reproductive Rights. “This Act would also bring us closer to the day when all service members have equitable access to comprehensive infertility care that helps them reach their goal of building a family.” 

The New York Times reports that one of the first concerns service members experiencing infertility face is insurance coverage. TRICARE will pay for assisted reproductive procedures if a loss in reproductive ability is caused by an injury sustained by a service member. Other than that, service members must cover costs themselves.

The Service Women's Action Network reports that infertility care is mixed for women who are not straight or married, and in some cases, they are refused treatment. The Center for Reproductive Rights estimates that 16% of female service members and 4%  of male service members identify as lesbians, gays or bisexuals. 

Furthermore, unmarried service members are approximately 43% of active-duty members, 52% in the National Guard and Reserves, and 40% among veterans.      
   
Sheila Jackson Lee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ayanna Pressley, Mark Takano and Carolyn Maloney are cosponsors of the bill.