Reproductive Assistance for Wounded Veterans Now Available Through VA
Wounded Warrior Project Led Advocacy Coalition
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2017) – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) applauds swift action by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help wounded veterans wishing to start a family. Veterans who lost the ability to conceive because of a service-connected injury will finally have access to fertility treatment under rules adopted by VA today.
The move comes just three months after Congress passed a bill allowing VA to offer these services. WWP led a coalition of partners to advocate on Capitol Hill to keep our nation’s promise of providing care that matches the sacrifices of our wounded warriors. Partners and veterans service organizations including WWP, Disabled Veterans of America®, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and others were part of the group. Campaign efforts included letters to members of Congress, an online petition, thousands of emails to lawmakers, and social media posts to raise public awareness. WWP brought several families on multiple trips to Washington, D.C. to personally share their stories with members of Congress and their staffs.
"It shouldn't take an act of Congress for veterans to start a family," Christy Lynch said during one of those trips. Her husband, Jeff, suffered a traumatic brain injury following explosions during two deployments in Iraq.
In addition to fertility treatment already offered, VA will provide coverage for assisted reproductive technologies including in vitro fertilization (IVF) to veterans who lost the ability to procreate because of a service-connected injury. They will also provide the treatment to spouses of veterans with those injuries. The new benefit through VA will essentially match what has been available to active-duty service members through the Department of Defense.
Veterans interested in receiving fertility treatment should contact their local VA for more information about scheduling an appointment. Those with injuries not already service-connected can contact WWP for information about filing a claim and gaining access to the new benefit.
WWP takes advocating on behalf of veterans seriously. WWP efforts have led to warriors and their caregivers gaining more than $2.5 billion in benefits. Learn more about policy efforts at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/policy-government-affairs.
Contact: Rob Louis – Public Relations
Email: rlouis@woundedwarriorproject.org
Phone: 904.627.0432
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org.