Understanding Fertility Benefits: What Do They Cover, Finding Your Coverage, Companies Who Offer Them, and More

As companies strive to offer more comprehensive employee benefits, fertility coverage has emerged as a critical component. This guide outlines the types of fertility benefits available, highlights companies leading the way, and explains how to check if your employer offers these benefits, and if they don’t, how to drive change in your organization.  

Types of Fertility Treatment Benefit Coverage

• In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI):
  • Coverage: Typically includes procedures, medications, and sometimes multiple cycles.
  • Frequency: Often one-time or with lifetime maximums.
• Egg & Sperm Freezing:
  • Coverage: Costs for retrieval, freezing, and storage.
  • Frequency: Usually one-time with storage fees potentially covered annually.
• Surrogacy and Adoption Assistance:
  • Coverage: Financial assistance for surrogacy and adoption expenses.
  • Frequency: Often one-time per child or per lifetime.
• Counselling and Support Services:
  • Coverage: Mental health support related to fertility treatments.
  • Frequency: Often annual.

Fertility Medication Benefit Coverage

The cost of medications required for fertility treatments can be a significant portion of your total care expenses.  The good news is that many are covered by your health plan if it includes prescription drug coverage.  Depending on your plan you may find you have different levels of coverage and it’s important to work with your HR lead, or directly with your insurance company, to find out what is and what is not covered prior to starting treatment.

Here are some tips in order to maximize your insurance coverage during your fertility journey

• Before you start treatment, contact your insurance provider and ask them to provide you with a comprehensive explanation of benefits with respect to fertility medications, including if there are any limits to the coverage such as:some text
  • Total amount limits
  • Total treatment cycle limits
  • Annual limits
  • Lifetime maximum limits
    Having this information prior to starting treatment will allow you to better financially plan for your fertility journey. If you have annual limits, you may want to consider timing of treatments and claim submissions.

• Submit medication claims in a timely manner.  Denied claims happen often and are able to be appealed. Always refer back to your explanation of benefits to make sure the reason for denial is correct.  Mistakes happen.  Your Pollin care team can assist with claims, preauthorization requests and denials/appeals.

• If you have a partner in your journey, remember to also investigate what is covered in their plan to increase your overall coverage. 

How to Check If Your Company Offers Fertility Benefit Coverage

• Review Your Benefits Handbook: Check your employee benefits handbook or online portal.
• Speak with HR: Contact your HR department or benefits coordinator for specific details about your plan.
• Insurance Provider Website: Use your insurance provider’s online portal to review coverage details.
• Health Spending Accounts: Even if your employer doesn't provide direct coverage, health spending accounts (HSAs) can often be used to cover fertility-related expenses, reducing out-of-pocket costs. Talk with your HR lead to find out if your company offers an HSA as an alternative, or in combination with, the traditional employee benefit plan.

List of Canadian Companies with Fertility Benefits:  Is Your Employer on the List?

Did you know that many companies now include fertility treatments and care as part of their corporate benefits? We've compiled a comprehensive list of over 100 Canadian companies that offer fertility benefits. Whether your company is on this list or not, it's always a good idea to review your benefits, check your health spending accounts, and consult with HR. Supporting employees with their fertility challenges not only enhances workplace performance but, we believe, it's also the right thing to do.

If you are a Canadian Employer and are not on this list, reach out to us to have your company added!

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Adobe Systems Canada Inc.: Extensive family-friendly benefits, including fertility support.

Apple: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Bank of Canada: Robust health and wellness benefits, including fertility support.

Bank of Montreal (BMO): Recently increased the lifetime maximum for fertility drugs to $20,000, The bank also reimburses $20,000 each for fertility treatment and surrogacy expenses, for a potential $60,000 in capped benefits.

Bayer Inc.: Comprehensive fertility coverage as part of their health benefits package.

Bell Canada: Fertility treatments and family support through their Workways program.

Bell Media: Offers fertility benefits.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Canada: Provides fertility support up to $15,000.

Boston Pizza International Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

British Columbia Investment Management Corp. (BCI): Fertility coverage included in their comprehensive benefits.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Business Development Bank of Canada: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

CAA South Central Ontario: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

CAE Inc.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Canada Energy Regulator: Known for family-friendly policies, including fertility benefits.

Canadian National Railway Company: Offers fertility coverage as part of their health benefits.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC): Fertility treatments included in their benefits.

Canadian Tire Corporation: Offers fertility benefits.

Carleton University: Fertility treatment coverage as part of their health benefits.

Cascades Canada Inc.: Known for family-friendly benefits, including fertility treatments.

Chanel: Unlimited coverage for fertility care.

CIBC: Recently began covering $15,000 each for treatment and drugs, with a total lifetime maximum of $30,000.

Cisco Canada: Up to $50,000 for IVF, egg freezing, and donor services.

Citi Canada: Offers fertility benefits as part of their health coverage.

Clio: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Coke Canada: $20,000 for fertility treatments, $20,000 for medication

Colliers International Canada: Offers fertility benefits.

College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia: Fertility coverage as part of their health benefits.

Compass Group Canada: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Corus Entertainment Inc.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Covenant House Vancouver: Offers fertility benefits.

Creative Options Regina, Inc.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Credit Valley Conservation Authority: Offers fertility benefits.

CRH Canada Group Inc.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Danone Canada: Offers fertility benefits to their employees.

Daily Bread Food Bank: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Dentons Canada LLP: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Dentsu Canada Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

Desjardins Group: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.: Offers fertility coverage as part of their health benefits.

Digital Extremes Ltd.: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Employment and Social Development Canada: Exceptional family-friendly benefits, including fertility treatments.

Enbridge Inc.: Known for their comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Export Development Canada: Fertility coverage is part of their health benefits package.

EY (Ernst & Young): Offers fertility coverage as part of their health benefits.

Fidelity Canada: Provides fertility benefits and parental support.

Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

FreshBooks: Offers fertility benefits as part of their health coverage.

GHD Canada Holdings Inc.: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Google Canada: $75,000 for IVF treatment, egg freezing and surrogacy expenses.

Graham Construction: Known for family-friendly benefits, including fertility treatments.

HarperCollins Canada Ltd. and Harlequin Enterprises ULC: Offers fertility benefits.

Hatch Ltd.: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Hootsuite: Comprehensive health benefits including fertility treatments.

Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids): Fertility treatments included in their health benefits.

Hudson’s Bay Company: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

IGM Financial Inc.: Offers fertility coverage as part of their health benefits.

Indigo Books & Music: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

iQmetrix: $25,000 lifetime coverage for fertility drugs.

Kinross Gold Corporation: Offers fertility benefits.

KPMG LLP: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Kruger Products Inc.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Labatt Breweries of Canada: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

League Inc.: Known for comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including fertility support.

LinkedIn: $100,000 for 3 IVF cycles.

Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO): Offers fertility benefits.

Loblaw Companies Ltd.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Loopio Inc.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

L'Oréal Canada Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

Lululemon: Offers fertility benefits.

Manulife: Includes fertility treatments as part of their health benefits.

Mars Canada: Offers fertility benefits.

Mattamy Homes Limited: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Mazda Canada Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

McCarthy Tétrault LLP: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

McMillan LLP: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Medtronic Canada ULC: Offers fertility benefits.

Mercer (Canada) Ltd.: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Meta (Canada): $100,000 for up to 4 IVF cycles, egg freezing.

Metrolinx: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Michael Garron Hospital: Offers fertility benefits.

Microsoft: $50,000 for IVF, egg freezing.

Ontario Power Generation: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

OpenText Corporation: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

PetSmart Canada Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

Pinterest: Coverage for two cycles of IVF and egg freezing.

PwC Canada: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

RCMP: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Rogers Communications Inc.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC): Has covered medication for fertility treatments since 2004 but recently increased it to a maximum of $20,000. RBC also upped their treatment coverage to $20,000, with a lifetime maximum of $60,000 for fertility and reproductive treatments, surrogacy, donor, and adoption costs.

Salesforce: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Scotiabank: expanded coverage to $10,000 for infertility treatment in addition to medication, as well as $10,000 for surrogacy expenses, for a maximum lifetime benefit of $30,000.

ServiceNow: Comprehensive health benefits including fertility treatments.

Shopify: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Simon Fraser University: Includes fertility treatments in their employee benefits.

Snap Inc.: Up to $65,000 for fertility and adoption costs, and $130,000 for surrogacy-related expenses.

Spotify: Unlimited IVF cycles.

Starbucks: $35,000 for fertility treatments and surrogacy.

Stryker Canada ULC: Up to $15,000 for fertility treatments.

Suncor Energy Inc.: Offers fertility benefits.

Sunlife Canada: $15,000 for fertility treatments and medication.

Telus: Comprehensive health benefits including fertility treatments.

Thomson Reuters Canada Limited: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Toronto-Dominion Centre: Offers fertility benefits.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.: Offers fertility benefits as part of their health coverage.

TransCanada Corporation: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

TD Bank: $20,000 each for treatment and medication, for a total of $60,000 that could be accessed over a lifetime for fertility and reproductive treatments, surrogacy, donor, and adoption costs.

University Health Network: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

University of Toronto: Offers fertility benefits.

Vale Canada Limited: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Walmart Canada:  Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Western University: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Wilfrid Laurier University: Offers fertility benefits.

York University: Includes fertility treatments in their health benefits.

Zymeworks Inc.: Comprehensive health benefits, including fertility treatments.

Understanding your benefits can make a significant difference in your fertility journey. Ensure you’re fully aware of what your employer offers, and don’t hesitate to reach out to HR for more details. Supporting fertility challenges is not just about improving employee performance; it's about doing what's right.

My Employer Does Not Have Fertility Benefits.  Can I Change This?

According to a study conducted in 2023, 53% of employers do NOT offer fertility benefits and for those that do, the average benefit is only $6,000 maximum lifetime, and less than 2% cover both drugs and treatment costs.

However, thanks to the efforts of Canadian fertility advocacy organizations like Conceivable Dreams and Fertility Matters Canada, more and more Canadian employers are recognizing the tangible value of adding family building benefits to their employee health plans - but much more work needs to be done, and often times it takes the voice of the employee to create change.

Head to www.fertilitybenefits.ca to download the employee toolkit to help start the conversation with your employer to include more inclusive fertility care benefits today.