U.S. Fertility Advancements: Could Germany Adopt this Trend?
Some individuals choose to delay parenthood until later in life, and if medical intervention is required, the costs can be substantial. In the USA, an increasing number of corporations are covering fertility treatment expenses for their employees. This trend, often referred to as "Fertility Benefits," is also starting to emerge in Germany, albeit on a smaller scale. Experts predict that this pressure will continue to mount on companies.
A decade ago, the news that tech companies like Meta and Apple were funding their employees' egg freezing in the USA sparked controversy. Concerns arose that women might prioritize their careers at the expense of their desire to have children. Julia Reichert, founder of Onuava, a Heidelberg startup, dismisses these fears. Onuava offers companies a platform to provide a variety of family planning options to their employees. Initially, fertility services were a means for Silicon Valley companies to combat skilled labor shortages and become more appealing to job seekers. Reichert explains that companies did not implement these benefits out of kindness or generosity, but because it benefited them financially. Employees can request reimbursement for procedures such as in vitro fertilization, adoption, or egg retrieval from their companies. Hannah Zagel, who studies this topic at the Berlin Social Science Center, attributes the focus to employee retention, increased productivity, and potentially higher employee satisfaction.
Based on an evaluation by the US Foundation for Employee Benefits in 2022, approximately 40% of American companies offer such services. The non-profit organization consists of over 31,000 members from corporations and the public sector. Fourteen percent of these companies contribute to the costs of "social freezing," or the preservation of eggs as a precautionary measure. In 2016, this percentage was only 2%.
Health insurance only covers some expenses
The trend of supporting fertility treatments is likely to extend to Germany, believes Reichert. "Companies are forced to come up with innovative solutions to address the skilled labor shortage." Upon request, some American companies like Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, or Salesforce either denied offering these benefits in Germany or could not provide information. The consulting firm McKinsey offers support for fertility treatment, adoption, and surrogacy, along with egg preservation, in Germany as well.
According to the German IVF Register, over 390,000 children have been born through in vitro fertilization since 1997. The costs for various treatments can reach up to 10,000 euros. German health insurance companies do not cover all of these expenses. According to the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, health insurance companies cover some costs for insured individuals under specific conditions. Older or same-sex couples, as well as singles, often bear the costs themselves. Voluntary egg retrieval and storage are also not covered.
Last year, pharmaceutical giant Merck announced plans to support its employees with fertility treatment. Since its inception in Germany in 2024, Merck has received around 200 inquiries. The demand for such support also originated from the employees. However, one of the partners must be employed by Merck during the treatment process.
Merck assures employees of confidentiality. "The supervisor will not be informed about this request or inquiry," explains Katharina Schiederig, head of the department for diversity, equality, and inclusion strategies at Merck. Merck acts only as a "billing point," with a maximum budget in the thousands. The topic is not heavily promoted.
"Our goal is not to push this, but to provide a wide range of support for fertility treatment," Schiederig emphasizes. The aim is to give women the freedom of choice. Sociologist Zagel considers a crucial aspect to be whether fertility benefits are tied to conditions. Do they truly provide employees with more choices, or do they expect employees to use these services in return?
Zagel emphasizes that there are alternative ways for companies to support families. They could offer childcare or more generous parental leave benefits. They could also introduce flexible working hours and make remote work easier. "It's essential to always emphasize the alternatives. There should be no pressure to use these services."
Companies may soon follow Merck's lead and offer fertility benefits to their employees in Germany, recognizing the need for innovative solutions to address the skilled labor shortage. However, it's important to note that German health insurance only covers some of the expenses associated with fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, leaving many individuals to bear the costs themselves for procedures like egg retrieval or storage.
