Starting July 1, 2025, California will implement one of the most inclusive fertility coverage laws in the nation. Senate Bill 729 (SB 729) significantly expands access to infertility care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for all Californians—regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Who’s covered?
The new law requires large employers in California—those with 100 or more employees and state-regulated health insurance plans—to cover both infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF.
What makes SB 729 stand out is its explicit inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, same-sex couples, and single parents. For the first time, these groups are guaranteed equal access to coverage without needing to meet outdated or exclusionary definitions of infertility.
When does coverage start?
- July 1, 2025: Coverage begins for fully insured large group plans.
- January 1, 2026: Many plans on a calendar-year cycle will adopt the benefit upon renewal.
- July 1, 2027: Coverage begins for California state employees under CalPERS health plans.
*Governor Gavin Newsom had asked the legislature to delay the start date to January 1, 2026, to allow time for California’s state benchmark plan to be updated. However, no legislation has been passed to make that change official. So unless that happens, the law goes into effect as originally planned—July 1, 2025. That said, plans that renew on a calendar-year basis may not implement the changes until January 1, 2026, because that’s when their new plan year starts.
What’s covered?
The law requires large group health insurance plans (generally offered by employers with 100 or more employees) to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF. This can significantly lower or even eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for eligible individuals.
Plans must include coverage for:
- Up to three completed oocyte (egg) retrievals
- Unlimited embryo transfers, based on ASRM’s single embryo transfer guidelines. This ensures that more patients can access multiple cycles of treatment if needed.
Does the new law cover fertility preservation like egg freezing?
The law does not explicitly mandate coverage for elective egg freezing for fertility preservation. However, since IVF coverage includes oocyte retrievals, some components of egg freezing may be covered if they are part of a medical treatment plan such as before undergoing treatments like chemotherapy that can harm reproductive health.
When will my insurance start paying for my fertility services?
Currently, coverage under SB 729 is set to begin on July 1, 2025. However, it may only apply to insurance plans that renew or are updated on or after that date. If an employer’s health plan renews at a later point in the year, the required fertility coverage may be added when the plan renews, at any time during the following 11 months. So, for some employees, coverage may not begin until later in the 2025–2026 plan year, depending on their employer’s renewal schedule. State employees who are covered under Cal-PERS will gain coverage effective January 1, 2027.
When should I schedule my fertility treatments? Should I wait for insurance coverage?
The decision to start fertility treatment is deeply personal and should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. While California’s new fertility coverage law takes effect on July 1, 2025, the exact timing of when your insurance will begin covering these services depends on your employer’s health plan renewal schedule—and for some, coverage may not begin until as late as 2027.
Because age and other individual factors can significantly impact fertility, your provider may advise you not to delay treatment while waiting for insurance coverage. We encourage you to discuss options with your healthcare provider and determine the best course of action based on your medical needs and timeline.
How do I find out how this new law applies to me?
We encourage you to reach out to both your employer/benefits team and insurance provider to confirm when coverage will begin, as timing and specific benefits may vary depending on your plan and renewal schedule.
A milestone in advancing reproductive health equity
One in six people are affected by infertility worldwide. SB 729 represents a significant milestone in advancing reproductive health equity in California. By requiring insurance coverage for fertility treatments and explicitly including LGBTQ+ individuals, single parents, and others historically left out, the law begins to close long-standing gaps in access to care. It helps remove financial and discriminatory barriers that have made fertility support out of reach for far too many. SB 729 is a step toward making family-building possible for all Californians, regardless of how they hope to grow their families.
