See if you qualify for free egg freezing.
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In recent years, egg freezing – also known as oocyte cryopreservation – has become an increasingly popular option for those who want to delay having children. This procedure involves the extraction and freezing of eggs for later use, potentially allowing you to have children at a time when you are more ready and able to do so. However, the procedure and storage can be pricey, with prices from $10,000 to $20,000 for one cycle plus the cost of storage.

To help offset these costs and support employees' reproductive choices, some forward-thinking employers now include egg freezing coverage in their benefits packages. This article examines which major companies offer egg freezing benefits, how much coverage they typically provide, and what your options are if your employer doesn't offer these benefits.

We'll explore current statistics on employer fertility coverage, highlight specific policies at companies like Apple, Google, and Walmart, explain how to check your own benefits, and discuss alternatives for those without employer coverage. Whether you're researching benefits at your current workplace or considering a company change, this guide provides essential information about the evolving landscape of fertility benefits in the workplace.

What percent of employers offer egg freezing as a fertility benefit?

When it comes to fertility benefits, the larger the company, the more likely they are to have egg freezing coverage. A Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans found that 11% of companies with 500+ people and 19% of companies with 20,000+ employees offer an egg freezing benefit. 

But even if you have coverage, it may not be enough. Of those employers offering fertility benefits, 60% have lifetime maximums with a median of $16,250.  Furthermore, many companies with fertility benefits require a diagnosis of infertility to cover the cost of egg freezing.

What employers offer egg freezing and fertility benefits?

To help offset these costs, some employers have begun offering egg freezing as part of their benefits package. Some industries, such as technology or healthcare, are more likely to offer fertility benefits as a way to attract and retain talent.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of the companies that offer free or subsidized egg freezing to their employees:

  • Alphabet: Alphabet (aka Google) offers a similar benefit to its employees, covering the cost of egg freezing up to $75,000 per employee. The company also covers other fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  • Amazon: Amazon’s fertility and family-building benefit, through Progyny, is available to all benefits-eligible employees regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or relationship status.
  • Apple: In 2014, Apple became one of the first major tech companies to offer egg freezing to its employees. The company covers the cost of the procedure, up to $20,000 per employee, as part of its fertility benefit program.
  • Citi: Citi covers a portion of egg freezing costs for employees, including one year of storage. 
  • Disney: Disney's family-building benefits offer coverage for egg freezing.
  • Intel: Intel covers $40,000 of IVF expenses, including egg freezing for salaried employees and hourly workers.
  • LinkedIn: LinkedIn offers egg freezing as part of its fertility benefit program, covering the cost up to $10,000 per employee.
  • Meta: Meta (aka Facebook) also offers egg freezing to its employees as part of its benefits package. The company covers the cost of the procedure, up to $20,000 per employee, as well as other fertility treatments.
  • Microsoft: Microsoft offers employees $50,000 to egg or sperm freezing.
  • Spotify: In 2019, Spotify began offering egg freezing to its employees, covering the cost up to $10,000 per employee.
  • Starbucks: Starbucks offers all full- and part-time benefit employees who work at least 20 hours a week a lifetime maximum of $25,000 for fertility services plus $10,000 for prescription drugs. 
  • Vanguard: Vanguard works with Progyny to offer employees access to “smart cycles” including egg freezing. It’s unclear if there’s a lifetime maximum.
  • Walmart: In 2022, Walmart partnered with KindBody to offer fertility benefits, including egg freezing, to associates (salaried, full-time hourly, and full-time vision managers after 12 months of employment). There’s a $20,000 individual lifetime maximum. 

When an employer offers egg freezing as part of its benefits package, it sends a clear message to employees that their reproductive choices are valued and supported. By covering some or all of the cost of this procedure, employers are acknowledging that many women face barriers when it comes to starting a family, such as career advancement or personal circumstances.

However, it’s worth considering the broader societal implications of egg freezing as a workplace benefit. While it can provide employees with greater reproductive freedom, it also highlights the fact that our current systems of work and family are often at odds with each other. In addition to offering egg freezing benefits, we need to work towards creating more family-friendly workplaces that support a range of family structures and life choices.

How to find out if your employer offers an egg freezing benefit

If you are wondering if your employer offers egg freezing as a benefit, here are three steps you can take to find out:

  1. Check your employee benefits package

The first step in finding out whether your employer offers egg freezing is to check your employee benefits package. Many employers will include information about their benefits offerings in the employee handbook or on their company intranet. Look for keywords such as "fertility," "reproductive health," or "family planning" to find out if egg freezing is mentioned.

  1. Ask your human resources representative

If you are unable to find information about egg freezing in your employee benefits package, speak with your human resources representative. They should be able to answer any questions you have about your employer's benefits offerings, including whether egg freezing is available.

  1. See if you qualify 

Even if your employer offers egg freezing benefits, there may be specific requirements to qualify. Look for terms like "medical necessity" or "diagnosis required" in your benefits documentation. Some companies only cover egg freezing if you have a medical condition requiring it, like cancer treatment or premature ovarian failure. Others may offer it as an elective benefit without requiring a medical diagnosis. Your HR team can clarify these distinctions.

Additionally, check for employment status requirements. Many benefits programs have eligibility criteria based on:

  • Full-time versus part-time status (like Starbucks' requirement of 20+ hours per week)
  • Length of employment (such as Walmart's 12-month employment requirement)
  • Job level or classification (some companies offer different benefits to salaried versus hourly employees)

These waiting periods and employment thresholds can significantly impact when you can access fertility benefits.

Are egg freezing benefits a “taxable event”?

Yes, many employers consider elective egg freezing a taxable benefit. Unlike medical procedures deemed medically necessary, which are often tax-exempt under healthcare benefits, egg freezing for non-medical reasons is typically considered a taxable fringe benefit by the IRS. 

This means that if your employer covers $20,000 for your egg freezing procedure, that amount might be added to your taxable income for the year, potentially increasing your tax liability. It's important to consult with a tax professional about your specific situation, as tax laws can change and individual circumstances vary. Additionally, ask your HR department how they classify and report egg freezing benefits to understand the potential tax impact before proceeding.

Why most employers don’t offer egg freezing benefits

While egg freezing benefits are becoming more common, unfortunately the majority of Americans don’t have any coverage at all. 

The biggest reason for this is the expense. Most companies do not have the financial resources to offer this benefit. The cost of offering egg freezing can vary from $10,000 to $20,000 per cycle. Especially for smaller companies, the cost of offering egg freezing may simply be too high.

There are also ethical considerations that may prevent companies from offering egg freezing as a benefit. Some companies may be uncomfortable with the idea of offering a medical procedure that is not strictly necessary for an employee's health. Others may be concerned about sending a message to employees that they should focus on work and delay starting a family.

What to do if your job doesn’t offer fertility benefits

If you are part of the majority of Americans who do not have an egg freezing benefit through your employer, there are other options. At Cofertility, we support our members with all the nitty-gritty details of egg freezing – like finding the best clinic, financing the journey, getting discounts on medications, and more. We offer two egg freezing programs:

  • In our Split program, you can freeze and store half of your eggs retrieved for up to 10 years for free when you donate the other half to a family who can’t conceive otherwise.
  • In our Keep program, you freeze and store your eggs for your own future use, with lower prices on things like storage and access to our community.

Our team is here for you every step of the way, and our online community connects you with others starting their egg freezing cycles at the same time for peer support.

Summing it up

For those who are considering delaying having children, egg freezing benefits can be a valuable resource. And it benefits the employer too! It can help to promote gender equity in the workplace, attract and retain top talent, improve job satisfaction, and provide cost savings for employees. 

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans have zero coverage for egg freezing. However, as the benefits of egg freezing become more widely recognized, we will hopefully see more employers offering this benefit as part of their overall compensation package.