When a servicemember is recovering from a serious war injury, having a baby is usually not an immediate concern.
But, as they recover, and military couples try to return to a regular routine, often they find that the next step, having children, is impossible to do naturally.
So far, the government has refused to help veterans whose injuries have stopped them from having children. At least three bills have been sent to Congress since 2012 to provide fertility services to wounded veterans. Officials estimate that roughly 2,300 veterans with spinal cord injuries or wounds to their reproductive and urinary tract systems would be eligible.
Each effort was sidelined as Congress wrestled with the enormous task of delivering basic medical needs to wounded veterans who were already waiting months, sometimes years for service. Tricare will cover the diagnosis of issues that cause infertility but will not cover the cost of in-vitro fertilization services, a cost that can range from $15,000 to $35,000.
Now, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproduction Technology has stepped in to take the lead. The organization has enlisted the help of 103 clinics across the nation who have agreed to offer deep discounts to injured veterans who need IVF services.
To read more about the program, check the full story by Military Times at http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2015/11/12/fertility-clinics-offer-discounts-wounded-veterans/75648244/