Understanding California’s SB 729 — Effective January 1, 2026
Fertility care just got more accessible
California just made fertility care more accessible than ever before. If you’ve been putting off IVF, egg freezing, or other fertility treatments because of cost, a new state law may change everything for you. At Laurel Fertility Care, we’re here to help you understand what this means for you and what your next steps look like.
Important timing note: SB 729 took effect January 1, 2026, but your coverage may not begin until your employer’s plan renewal date. Some plans renew mid-year. Ask your HR team when your plan renews to know exactly when your fertility benefits start.
Last updated: May 2026
What is SB 729?
California Senate Bill 729 is a landmark state law that requires fully insured large-group employer health plans to cover fertility treatments, including IVF, fertility preservation, and related services. It’s the most significant expansion of fertility insurance coverage in California history, and it was designed to be inclusive of all Californians regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status.
Last updated: May 2026
What is SB 729?
California Senate Bill 729 is a landmark state law that requires fully insured large-group employer health plans to cover fertility treatments, including IVF, fertility preservation, and related services. It’s the most significant expansion of fertility insurance coverage in California history, and it was designed to be inclusive of all Californians regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status.
Am I eligible?
Use this quick eligibility guide to understand whether your employer’s health plan is likely covered under SB 729.
SB 729 Eligibility Checklist — Work Through Each Step
Step 1
Does your employer have 101 or more employees?
SB 729 applies to large-group employer plans, which means employers with 101 or more employees. If your company has fewer than 101 employees, SB 729 may not apply to your plan, though your employer may still offer voluntary fertility benefits worth asking about.
Step 2
Is your plan fully insured rather than self-funded?
This is the most important question to ask. A fully insured plan means an insurance carrier covers your claims. A self-funded plan means your employer pays claims directly and is regulated by federal rather than California state law, which means SB 729 does not legally require them to provide fertility coverage. Ask your HR department: “Is our health plan fully insured or self-funded?”
Step 3
Is your plan regulated by California?
Most fully insured large-group plans sold in California are regulated by the California Department of Insurance or the Department of Managed Health Care and qualify under SB 729.
Step 4
When does your plan renew?
SB 729 took effect January 1, 2026, but your fertility benefits begin at your plan’s renewal date. Ask HR when your plan renews so you know exactly when your coverage starts.
If you answered yes to the first three steps, you are likely covered.
Not sure? Our team can help you find out before your first appointment, at no cost to you.
Who is covered by SB 729?
One of the most meaningful things about this law is who it was written to include. SB 729 does not require a medical diagnosis of infertility to access coverage. It was designed for everyone on a qualifying plan who needs fertility services, including…
Heterosexual couples experiencing infertility
LGBTQIA+ individuals and same-sex couples
Single parents by choice
People who need fertility preservation before cancer treatment or other medical procedures
Those who simply want to understand and preserve their reproductive options for the future
If you’ve ever wondered whether fertility care was truly meant for someone like you, this law was written with you in mind.
Ready for some clarity?
You shouldn’t have to navigate fertility insurance on your own. Our team can help you understand your benefits, answer your questions, and make sense of your options so you can move forward with confidence.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Smikle and our team today. We see patients in San Francisco, Oakland and Modesto.
What does SB 729 cover?
For patients on qualifying plans, SB 729 requires coverage for a broad range of fertility services.
IVF
Up to three complete egg retrieval cycles per person, plus unlimited frozen embryo transfers subject to clinical guidelines. This is the core of the law and represents potentially tens of thousands of dollars in covered care.
Fertility medications
Ovarian stimulation drugs and related prescriptions used during covered treatment cycles are included, though your plan’s prescription benefit may have its own cost-sharing structure.
Diagnostic testing
Lab work, ultrasounds, semen analysis, and other evaluations needed to understand and guide your care.
IUI
Intrauterine insemination is covered under qualifying plans as a less invasive treatment option.
Fertility preservation
Egg freezing and embryo freezing when medically indicated, including for patients who need to preserve their fertility before cancer treatment begins.
Monitoring
All visits and monitoring associated with covered treatment cycles.
It’s worth knowing that not every employer plan qualifies. If your employer uses a self-funded plan, which is common among many large Bay Area companies, SB 729 does not legally require them to provide this coverage. That said, many self-funded employers have voluntarily added fertility benefits, and it is absolutely worth asking. Our team can help you figure out where your plan stands and what options are available to you regardless of your coverage situation.
Why Laurel Fertility Care
Navigating fertility insurance is not new to us. Long before SB 729 made insurance coverage for fertility care more common, we were already working with patients to understand their benefits, maximize their coverage, and remove financial barriers from the path to parenthood. That experience matters when the details of your coverage are on the line.
We’re a small, dedicated practice with the expertise of a much larger institution. Dr. Collin Smikle and our care team have spent years building relationships with insurers, understanding the nuances of fertility coverage, and advocating for patients who deserve more than a confusing explanation and a bill they weren’t prepared for.
“Access to fertility care should never depend on how well you can navigate a system that wasn’t designed with you in mind,” says Dr. Smikle. “SB 729 is a meaningful step forward, and at Laurel Fertility Care, helping patients understand their coverage and find a clear path forward has always been part of how we care for people. That is not something we are figuring out as we go. It is something we have been doing for years.”
We see patients across three locations, San Francisco, Oakland, and Modesto, and we’re committed to making expert, compassionate fertility care accessible to everyone in the Bay Area and Central Valley.
“The care we received while trying to become a family was second to none. What was awesome about Dr. Smikle was that every cycle he did something different so we were never doing the same thing twice that didn’t work. Our journey was a long one, but Dr. Smikle and the Laurel team never gave up and they were always positive.”
Bethany G.
How to verify your coverage
Understanding your coverage doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here is how to get clear answers quickly.
Step 1
Confirm your employer size and plan type with HR
Contact your HR department and ask whether your health plan is fully insured or self-funded, and whether your employer has 101 or more employees. These two questions tell you immediately whether SB 729 applies to your plan.
Step 2
Ask HR when your plan renews
Ask HR when your plan renews. Your SB 729 fertility benefits begin at your plan’s renewal date, not necessarily January 1, 2026.
Step 3
Call your insurance carrier’s member services line
Call your insurance carrier’s member services line, the number is on the back of your insurance card, and ask specifically about SB 729 fertility benefits. Ask what is covered, what your cost-sharing obligations are, and request a written summary of your fertility benefits.
Step 4
Contact Laurel Fertility Care—we’ll help you navigate the rest
Schedule a consultation at Laurel Fertility Care. Our team will verify your benefits, walk you through exactly what your plan covers, and make sure you have a complete picture before your first appointment. We have been doing this for years, and we will make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
The scale of this change
Millions of Californians are newly eligible. Many don’t know it yet.
Millions
Millions of Californians are newly eligible for fertility insurance coverage under SB 729
$15K-$25K
$15,000 to $25,000 was the typical out-of-pocket cost per IVF cycle before SB 729 coverage
3 cycles
3 egg retrieval cycles is the maximum covered per person under qualifying plans
Ready to find out what you’re covered for?
Fertility care has never been more within reach for Californians. Whether you are just learning about SB 729 or ready to begin treatment, Laurel Fertility Care is here to guide you from your first question to your first appointment and every step beyond.
Your coverage verification is on us. Your care is personal. And your path to parenthood matters to us as much as it matters to you.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Smikle and our team today. We see patients in San Francisco, Oakland and Modesto, and we’re ready to meet you wherever you are in your journey.
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