ACA Contraception Coverage
The ACA requires employer health plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods at $0 cost-sharing as a preventive service. This requirement applies to all contraceptive methods approved by the FDA — including oral contraceptives, IUDs, implants, and emergency contraception. Religious employers may have an exemption.
Adoption Assistance
Adoption assistance benefits allow employers to reimburse employees for qualified adoption expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. The 2026 exclusion limit is $16,810 per eligible child. Adoption assistance is a relatively low-cost benefit that is highly valued by employees who are building their families through adoption.
Surrogacy Benefits
IQ Insight
Surrogacy benefits — reimbursement for surrogacy-related expenses — are increasingly offered by large employers as a family-building benefit. Surrogacy costs $100,000–$200,000 or more, making it inaccessible for most employees without employer assistance. Employers who offer surrogacy benefits report significant improvements in recruiting and retention among LGBTQ+ employees and employees with fertility challenges.