DOD rescinds reproductive health care protections for servicemembers
The Department of Defense issued a memorandum rescinding reproductive health care protections for servicemembers and their dependents. Under the Biden administration, official policy allowed servicemembers and their dependents to receive reimbursements for expenses related to transportation, lodging, and meals while undergoing non-covered reproductive health care, such as abortion care or assisted reproductive services. The Trump administration has now rescinded that policy.
Under federal law, DOD is prohibited from providing, and TRICARE from covering, any abortion care except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the pregnant person. DOD also offers IVF care only to servicemembers who can demonstrate that their infertility was caused by their military service. As a result, many servicemembers and their dependents must travel off-base to receive these essential health care services and pay for travel and health care costs out of pocket. The Biden policy had sought to alleviate some of the burden servicemembers and their dependents face in attempting to obtain health care DOD fails to provide.