When does California's IVF coverage law actually start for my plan?

SB 729 applies to plan years beginning on or after 2026-01-01. That is not the same as "everyone is covered on 2026-01-01." If your employer's plan year renews in, say, July, your coverage would start at that July renewal.

Find your renewal date

• Your open-enrollment materials name the plan year.
• HR can tell you in one sentence: "When does our medical plan year begin?"
• Calendar-year plans (renewing January 1) were the first to be covered.

Public employees

Public-employee plans have a later date: 2027-07-01.

What to do while you wait

• Ask HR whether the plan is fully insured (the law does not apply to self-funded plans at all).
• If you have a retrieval planned before renewal, ask the clinic whether any part can be scheduled after — a completed retrieval before the effective date will not count as covered.
• Get pre-authorization in writing once the plan year starts.

Sources

• RESOLVE — Understanding California's IVF insurance law; Carrot SB 729 update; Sen. Menjivar AB 116 delay notice — effective 2026-01-01, verified 2026-09-06

This page explains public coverage rules and typical prices as of the dates shown. It is an estimate and an interpretation, not a coverage decision by your plan, and not legal, medical, tax, or insurance advice. Your plan documents control. We never store what you enter here unless you choose to save a plan.