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Family Building Benefits

Everyone's path to parenthood deserves support

The journey to starting a family is not the same for everyone and the path to building a family can take many forms.

Many of today's employees are starting families later, pursuing diverse paths to parenthood, and seeking employers who support their family-building journeys. While some provinces offer limited coverage for fertility treatments[1], many Canadians face significant gaps in coverage for adoption, surrogacy, and fertility services.

Family building benefits support employees by creating an inclusive workplace that recognizes and supports all paths to parenthood, enhances diversity and equity initiatives, and demonstrates commitment to employees' most important life goals.

Our integrated family building benefit helps fill the financial gaps not covered by provincial or territorial government plans. The maximum standard is $20,000 per lifetime, however Plan Sponsors may vary this maximum to fit the needs of their benefit plan.

By adding family building under your Extended Health Benefits, Plan Sponsors can:

  • Help their Plan Members reach their dreams of parenthood
  • Provide Plan Members financial support for fertility, surrogacy, and adoption expenses
  • Ensure their benefit offering supports an inclusive company culture
  • Offer Plan Members access to dedicated claims support teams

Did you know?

Fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Canada can cost $15,000 or more on average per cycle.[2]

Surrogacy expenses can start at $80,000.[3]

Most private adoption costs begin at $15,000.[4]

One benefit, three coverages:

Fertility

Coverage for fertility treatments, lab tests and fertility drugs. Reimbursement is available for:

  • Physician services’ fees
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Medical imaging
  • Laboratory and genetic testing
  • Artificial insemination (AI)
  • Intrauterine insemination (IU)
  • In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Assisted Hatching
  • Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
  • In-vitro maturation
  • Cryopreservation and services related to sperm retrieval, selection, testing, washing, and preparation

Note: Eligible fertility drugs are subject to the fertility drug maximum outlined in the plan.

Surrogacy

Coverage for fertility services, fertility drugs and surrogacy medical expenses. Reimbursement is available for:

  • Physician services’ fees
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Medical imaging
  • Laboratory and genetic testing
  • Artificial insemination (AI)
  • Intrauterine insemination (IU)
  • In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Assisted Hatching
  • Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
  • In-vitro maturation
  • Cryopreservation and services related to sperm retrieval, selection, testing, washing, and preparation

Adoption

Coverage for costs related to the adoption process. Reimbursement is available for:

  • Plan Member legal fees
  • Adoption agency fees
  • Travel fees for the Plan Member and their spouse or necessary travel during an international adoption

Note: This benefit (Adoption) is a taxable expense.

We are here to help support businesses and their employees' dreams of building a family. Contact us today to learn more about our family building coverage.

Are you a Plan Sponsor?

Contact your Broker or Agent to learn more about our product suite and how Wawanesa Life can support your business.

Are you a broker?

Please contact your Wawanesa Regional Group Manager or National Manager if you would like more information about the products and services we offer.

Looking to support Plan Members on their family building journey?

Consider adding additional mental health services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or a Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA).

Group Insurance

Sources

  1. Fertility Benefits Canada ↩
  2. The Health Insider ↩
  3. Growing Families ↩
  4. Canada Adopts ↩