Growing a family: Support for insureds
Becoming a parent is not always an easy journey. Fortunately, fertility treatments, assisted reproduction, adoption and surrogacy1 offer potential solutions. That being said, these options come with their share of difficulties, uncertainty and stress—and often a high price tag. We created Family Focus to help insureds become parents without jeopardizing their financial security.
In one study, 42% of workers said that fertility benefits were a key factor in deciding whether to accept a new job offer. The same study revealed that about 17%2 of the world’s population faces fertility challenges. That’s why we created Family Focus.
We know that the employee benefits you provide can play a key role in attracting and retaining top talent. That’s why it’s important for group insurance to provide benefits that reflect the needs of our changing society.
Through Family Focus, we’ve created a package that covers the physical, mental, financial and social aspects that will support your plan members’ and their families’ well-being throughout their journey to parenthood.
A comprehensive, inclusive program designed to support anyone experiencing difficulty having a child, regardless of their relationship status, gender or sexual orientation.
Fertility treatments
The Family Focus program covers fertility drugs and treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). It also includes related services, such as freezing and storing reproductive cells, and various laboratory tests (including genetic screening). Our flexible offer allows reimbursements for drugs and treatments to be handled separately,3 depending on the plan selected.
Our group insurance plans can also cover a wide range of services and resources like:
- Surrogacy expenses
- Adoption fees
- Fertility counselling
- Family coaching
- Sexologists
- Nutritionists/dietitians
- Midwives
- Doulas
- Prenatal classes
- Marriage counsellors and family therapists
- Safety equipment for babies
- Parent-child activity programs
- Perinatal loss support
- Breast pumps (for medical reasons)
The psychological and other support services we cover can be a valuable resource for people whose fertility challenges prevent them from having a child. Parents experiencing perinatal loss may want to reach out to one of many reputable Canadian organizations to get advice or therapy, or join a support group. More information about these organizations is available on the Health is Cool 360° platform, if applicable.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is when someone else agrees to carry a child to help a single person or a couple grow their family. Although surrogates can’t be covered under your plan (as a spouse or dependant), certain expenses related to the surrogate’s pregnancy can be claimed. You can enhance your plan by choosing to cover certain expenses.
Surrogate’s medical expenses
- Fertility drugs
- Fertility treatments, including genetic and prenatal screening tests, pregnancy ultrasounds and pregnancy-related laboratory tests
Surrogate’s non-medical expenses
If you have a health spending account with your plan, the following services may also be claimed:
- Obtaining medical and other records
- Doula services
- Child and pet care
- Vitamins, minerals and supplements
- Prenatal classes, nutritionist/dietitian services
- Legal advice
Adoption
It’s also possible to cover the costs involved in the adoption process, including the following:
- Administrative fees: Criminal record checks, document translation, agency fees in or outside Canada, international consultation fees
- Social services fees: Home study fees, post-placement visits (child welfare, medical appointments, support for new parents, etc.)
Family Focus isn’t one specific type of coverage—it’s a combination of complementary treatments, products and services available through different benefits to provide insureds with better coverage. Depending on which treatments, products and services you choose to cover, additional costs may apply.
If you’re interested in enhancing your group insurance plan’s family-building coverage, or to find out which benefits are available with your plan, please contact your benefits advisor.
1. Also known as gestational surrogacy, a gestational carrier or surrogate mother. 2. Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021. 3. Available for groups with 50 or more people.
Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company.