California’s New IVF Law: What It Means for Your Fertility Journey at SCFC

The law requires certain fully insured large group health plans with 101 or more employees to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment including IVF as a standard benefit. In everyday language, many people who work for mid-sized and large employers in California may now have some level of fertility coverage built into their health insurance instead of paying all costs themselves.

Covered benefits often include diagnostic testing, fertility medications, monitoring visits such as ultrasounds and bloodwork, and advanced treatments like IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI). The mandate also uses a more inclusive definition of infertility. It acknowledges that LGBTQ+ individuals and single intended parents may need medical assistance to build a family even if they have not tried to conceive through intercourse.

Not every plan is affected in the same way. Self funded employer plans, which many very large companies use, are not required to follow this mandate. Smaller groups and individual policies may also have different rules. The best way to understand how the law applies in your situation is to review your specific benefits or speak with a team that understands both fertility care and insurance language.

At SCFC, this law is seen as an opportunity to open more doors to high quality, carefully planned care. IVF is not a single event. It is a series of decisions about timing, medication choices, laboratory techniques, and transfer planning. When more of the core treatment is covered, you have more freedom to choose the clinic and physician who align with your goals and comfort level.

Dr Foyouzi is a triple board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Geneticist who personally leads your care instead of rotating you among multiple doctors. That continuity is especially valuable when you are finally able to pursue treatment through insurance and want each cycle to be approached with intention. The SCFC team can help you review your insurance documents, identify whether your plan is a fully insured large group plan that must comply with the mandate, and clarify which services are likely to be covered versus those that may remain out of pocket.

For many people, IVF has always felt like something they would consider only if circumstances were different. When you learn that your insurance may now help cover treatment, IVF moves closer to being a genuine option rather than an abstract idea. That change can bring a mix of relief, hope, and understandable uncertainty.

During your initial consultation at SCFC, you and Dr Foyouzi will talk through your medical history, any prior attempts to conceive, your hopes for family building, and the realities of your schedule and budget. Together, you create a plan that reflects your coverage while honoring what matters most to you. If your employer uses a self funded plan, or if you have coverage through a smaller group or individual policy, you may still face out of pocket costs. In those situations, the team can work with you on transparent pricing and discuss financing options or alternative pathways when appropriate.

If you are wondering whether this new law could finally make IVF or other fertility treatments possible for you, the most important next step is a conversation. You do not need to have every detail of your insurance plan memorized before you reach out. When you contact SCFC, the team can review your insurance information, help determine whether the mandate applies to your plan, and schedule a consultation with Dr Foyouzi to discuss your medical options. Expanded coverage combined with experienced, personalized care can make building your family through IVF more attainable than it has felt in the past. You are welcome here, and you do not have to take the next step alone.