Troops can get up to $10,000 to freeze eggs under new pilot

Key Points:

• Starting September 14, the federal government will launch a three-year pilot program reimbursing active-duty troops up to $10,000 annually for egg freezing and $500 for sperm freezing to preserve fertility before hazardous deployments or long separations.
• Eligibility includes service members ordered to duty in hazardous countries or those separated from a spouse or partner for six months or more due to military orders, with reimbursement covering retrieval, freezing, storage, and shipping within the program window.
• Troops can use military medical facilities with reproductive health services or civilian fertility clinics, though availability may vary and services are generally first-come, first-served.
• Participants must have an advanced medical directive specifying the disposition of their preserved gametes after death, and the Defense Health Agency will evaluate the program based on participation, costs, user experience, and effects on readiness and retention.
• The initiative addresses longstanding concerns about fertility risks from combat injuries, exposures, and separations, aiming to support military family planning and retention.