As a currently active Air Force reservist who also served active duty for six years, I have personally experienced the struggle to have children. The stress of military service, coupled with exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation, can likely cause infertility. Yet, Tricare - the health care program providing coverage for military personnel - only covers fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) for those with obvious fertility injuries and even then it is a struggle to prove that the infertility is service injury related.

This is not just my story; it's the story of countless service members who are silently suffering from infertility issues. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, male veterans were found to be 1.5 times more likely than civilians to report infertility issues (JAMA Network Open 2019). This statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive fertility treatment coverage under Tricare. Military.com also reported that nearly 40% of active duty women struggled to get pregnant or carry a child to term and over 30% of female reservists. (Military.com 2018). Considering the rate of infertility for the civilian population is approximately 13%, there is a clear correlation between military service and infertility. 

We ask that Tricare be mandated to cover fertility treatments such as IUI, IVF, donor programs, and naprotechnology for all service members, not just those with obvious fertility injuries. This change will ensure that those who serve our country do not have their dreams of starting a family compromised due to their commitment to country. 

Please sign this petition if you believe in supporting our brave servicemen and servicewomen on their journey towards parenthood.