Many patients are excited about the fact that California is taking a major step forward in reproductive healthcare access with the passage of Senate Bill 729 (SB 729)! It is a new law that requires certain employers to provide insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you’re wondering whether this affects you or your family-building plans, here’s what you need to know.
To Start -What Is California SB 729?
SB 729 is a state law passed in 2023 that mandates large-group health insurance plans (those covering 101 or more employees) in California to include coverage for IVF treatment. This requirement applies to any fully insured plans that are issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Currently, there is a bill to delay it’s start until January 1, 2026 however it’s still under review. If it is passed, this would allow employers to delay updating plans to include IVF until they renew the plans which could mean January 1, 2027 that most employees would have this benefit.
Who Is Covered?
If you are:
- Employed by a company with 101+ employees, and
- Enrolled in a fully insured health plan regulated in California
Then you may be eligible for IVF coverage starting with your plan’s next renewal after July 1, 2025. Many employer-sponsored health plans renew at the start of the calendar year, so for many people, IVF coverage would begin January 1, 2026 (unless the Bill to delay gets passed, in that case it may be January 1, 2027).
Who May Not Be Covered?
If your employer uses a self-insured (ERISA) plan—a common setup for large national employers—then SB 729 does not apply. These plans are regulated at the federal level and are exempt from state insurance mandates, meaning IVF coverage is not guaranteed unless your employer voluntarily includes it. This may be tricky to understand, however it may be indicated on your health plan ID or in your employers benefits manual.
Although the Senate Bill doesn’t include verbiage about age limitations, the specific insurance plans may include age or hormone level limitations for coverage.
Does SB 729 Include Egg Freezing?
No. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) is not mandated under SB 729. While some plans may choose to offer it, there is no requirement under this law for insurers to cover egg freezing for either medical or elective purposes.
When Does SB 729 Take Effect?
As it stands, SB 729 takes effect for new or amended plans on or after July 1, 2025.
However, California lawmakers are considering a delay to align implementation with other insurance benchmarks. If passed, the law would take effect January 1, 2026, meaning coverage might not begin until January 1, 2027 for some plans.
The first step to understanding if you have fertility benefits is to call your insurance company and verify your coverage!
