The New York City Council is urging Mayor Eric Adams to extend in vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage to gay male employees, in light of a recent lawsuit. The council’s LGBT Caucus argue that not extending such benefits to gay men that are offered to straight couples and single women is “discriminatory”. The caucus has asked Adams to update the city’s health care plans and reimburse gay men who have been denied IVF benefits previously.
The issue stems from a statutory definition of “infertility,” which is described as “the inability to conceive a child through male-female unprotected sexual intercourse.” As per this definition, a 2020 state law that mandates insurance plans to cover three IVF cycles does not extend coverage to gay male couples.
The plea from the LGBT Caucus follows a lawsuit filed last month by a gay male employee who was denied IVF coverage. The caucus has also urged Mayor Adams to back proposed legislation stipulating the city cover assisted reproduction services and adoption for municipal employees, disregarding an infertility diagnosis.
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