Millions of Californians Now Have Health Plan Coverage for Infertility and Fertility Services
Thanks to Senate Bill 729, authored by Senator Menjivar!
SACRAMENTO - Senate Bill 729, authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), which requires state regulated large employer health insurance to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including IVF, goes into effect for contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
“The day has come! SB 729, one of my top legislative goals since becoming a state senator, has opened the door to family planning for up to nine million people in California ,” said State Senator Caroline Menjivar. “Not only are we expanding coverage under large group health insurance, we are also proving California’s commitment to reproductive justice by ensuring LGBTQ+ folks and unpartnered individuals are no longer denied coverage under the former discriminatory definition of infertility. I know the journey to parenthood has many hurdles to clear, but I am emotional to see that my bill will remove at least one huge obstacle for those aspiring parents under qualifying plans!”
The main objectives of SB 729, as authored by Senator Menjivar, was to create the following mandates.
- Require large group health care plans in California, 100 or more employees, to provide coverage for infertility care, including coverage for in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Change the definition of infertility to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community and unpartnered individuals, as modeled after the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s definition.
The California Department of Managed Health Care released an All Plan Letter to all full service health plans on December 30, 2025, with guidance regarding compliance.
It is important to note, health care benefit contracts under CalPERS are not required to comply until July 1, 2027, and all individuals are encouraged to check with their health plans directly to confirm benefits and to learn how to access those benefits.
Senator Menjivar continued her mission to expand this coverage to even more Californians by authoring Senate Bill 62, which was signed by the Governor in 2025. Among several coverage expansions, SB 62 will add infertility services to California's 2027 Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan for health insurance available in the individual and small group market, including Covered California. This is currently awaiting approval from the federal government in order to be enacted and, if approved, the benefit will be available in Covered California plans beginning in January 2027.
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