Infertility Benefit for Carpenters and their Families
Northern California Carpenters have a new benefit effective January 1, 2026 – infertility treatment is now covered for all active participants eligible for Health and Welfare benefits. Medically Necessary infertility benefits are provided through Progyny as the exclusive in-network provider. Today we’ll answer some questions you may have about this new benefit.
How common is infertility? Infertility is a common medical issue. According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 9% of men and over 11% of women of reproductive age in the United States have experienced fertility problems.1
Anyone who has experienced fertility challenges knows that it can take a heavy toll on individuals and families emotionally, physically and financially.
While it’s clear infertility is a significant health issue, obtaining treatment has traditionally been costly. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost2 for a single cycle of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to range from $15,000 to $20,000, and can exceed $30,000 if a donor egg is involved.
Your Health and Welfare benefit. To make infertility treatment more accessible, the State of California passed legislation (Senate bill SB729) requiring many to include infertility benefits at the same level of coverage as all other healthcare. Following passage of the bill, the Board of Trusteees voted to add infertility benefits to all families of the active Health and Welfare Plan, whether you are enrolled in the Indemnity Plan or Kaiser. The decision to cover all families of the Plan exceeds what is required by law.
To best serve participants, the Board of Trustees has contracted with Progyny to facilitate and provide fertility planning, advice and treatment.
Who is Progyny? Progyny is a fertility, family building and women’s health benefit solution designed for you and your family. Their goal is to help Northern California Carpenters realize their dreams of family and ideal health.
Progyny is your source for a wide range of services to help you through your family building journey, featuring:
- Infertility Treatment & Prescriptions - Coverage for paths such as IUI, IVF, egg freezing, donor tissue purchase and more
- Concierge Support - Connect with a dedicated Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) who will work directly with you throughout your journey including:
- Planning and decision support for all paths to family
- Nutrition, lifestyle and ovulation tracking to optimize unassisted conception
- Early risk detection and care coordination
- Inclusive emotional, financial and logistical support for fertility, adoption and surrogacy pathways
- Top Fertility Specialists - Access a network of top Reproductive Endocrinologists and Reproductive Urologists, embryology labs and genetic counselors
- Doctor-Approved Resources - Tap into exclusive educational content for your journey, including tools and resources like the Progyny App, a member guide specifically created for Nor Cal Carpenters, an educational library and even a Podcast to help you stay informed.
What does your Infertility Benefit include? Covered services include the following:
- Services required to diagnose infertility, including laboratory and imaging services
- Services to treat infertility, including medications, artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization
- A maximum of three completed oocyte retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers in accordance with the guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), using single embryo transfer when recommended and medically appropriate
- Medically necessary coverage of tissue storage, such as those necessary prior to chemotherapy, for up to one year
- Medically necessary pre-surrogate procedures, up to birth; benefits apply only to the parents, not the surrogate
Please note: No infertility benefits will be covered unless the services are provided through Progyny’s network. In addition, all services require Progyny’s pre-authorization prior to any services being rendered or there are no benefits available.
What if I’m a Kaiser member? Progyny is the Plan’s exclusive provider of infertility benefits whether you are a Kaiser or Indemnity Plan participant. If you have Kaiser, seek infertility treatment only through Progyny. When you visit a Progyny medical provider, your plan benefits and copays will be the same as they are when visiting any other provider.
What about prescriptions? Whether you are a Kaiser or Indemnity plan participant, a limited number of medications specific to infertility treatment are provided through Progyny. However, most prescriptions are covered under your regular plan benefits.
The new Carpenters infertility benefit can help you realize the dream of building your family. Accessing your benefit is simple – simply call Progyny at 866-951-6147 and connect with a Patient Care Advocate to begin your journey.
.1 cdc.gov - FastStats - Infertility