Affordable Care Act: Waiting period for group plan, IVF services

Do companies who offer in vitro fertilization (IVF) as part of their health insurance require an employee to have been employed by them for a certain amount of time before being able to use this benefit?

Hopeful Future Mom

Dear Hopeful Future Mom,

As a practical matter, the IVF benefit would be available to everyone enrolled in the health plan. The only way to withhold the benefit would be to have a long waiting period before allowing new employees to join the health plan. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers cannot have a waiting period longer than 90 days. (This applies to employers with 50 or more employees, who are subject to the Act’s rules.)

Linda Riddell

About Linda Riddell

A published author and health policy analyst with 25 years’ experience, Linda Riddell's goal is to alleviate the widespread ailment of not knowing what your health plan can do for you.