Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15, provides: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them.” 
A fundamental part of human experience is fulfilling the desire to reproduce. 
Unfortunately, millions of Filipino women and men are suffering from infertility. 
While recent improvements in therapy make pregnancy possible for more couples 
now than in past years, the majority of group health plans do not provide coverage for 
infertility therapy; thus, making it impossible for low and middle-income families to 
avail of the technology. 
Hence, this bill seeks to require coverage for the treatment of infertility in any group 
health plan or individual health insurance. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
November 10, 2022
2:54 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR., 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING COVERAGE FOR THE TREATMENT OF INFERTILITY 
IN ANY GROUP HEALTH PLAN OR HEALTH INSURANCE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Family Building Act.” 
SECTION 2. Standards Relating to Benefits for Treatment of Infertility. – 
(A)
In General. – In a case in which a group health plan and a health insurance 
issuer, offering health insurance coverage, provide coverage for obstetrical 
services, such plan or issuer shall include coverage for treatment of infertility 
consistent with this Section.
(B)  
Infertility Defined. – For purposes of this section, the term ‘infertility’ means a 
disease or condition that results in the abnormal function of the reproductive 
system, which results in –
(1) 
The inability to conceive after (one) 1 year of unprotected intercourse, or
(2) 
The inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth.
(C) 
Required Coverage. – A group health plan and a health insurance issuer, 
offering health insurance coverage shall provide coverage for treatment of 
infertility deemed appropriate by a participant or beneficiary and the treating 
physician.  Such treatment shall include ovulation induction, artificial 
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insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), 
zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and 
any other treatment provided it has been deemed as ‘non-experimental’ by the 
Secretary of Health after consultation with appropriate professional and patient 
organizations such as the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists. 
 
(D)  Limitation on Coverage of Assisted Reproductive Technology. – 
(1)  In General. – In the case of assisted reproductive technology, coverage 
shall be provided if – 
(a)  The participant or beneficiary has been unable to bring a pregnancy 
into a live birth through less costly medically appropriate infertility 
treatments for which coverage is available under the insured’s policy, 
plan, or contract; 
(b)  The participant or beneficiary has not undergone four (4) complete 
oocyte retrievals, except that if a live birth follows a completed oocyte 
retrieval, then at least two (2) more completed oocyte retrievals shall 
be covered, with a lifetime cap of 6 retrievals; 
(2)  Definition of Assisted Reproductive Technology. – For purposes of this 
paragraph, the term ‘assisted reproductive technology’ includes all 
treatments or procedures that involve the handling of human egg and 
sperm for the purpose of helping a woman become pregnant.  Types of 
Assisted Reproductive Technology include in vitro fertilization, gamete 
intrafallopian 
transfer, 
zygote 
intrafallopian 
transfer, 
embryo 
cryopreservation, egg or embryo donation, and surrogate birth. 
 
(E)  Review by the Secretary of Health. – Not later than five (5) years after the date 
of enactment of the Family Building Act, the Secretary of Health shall review the 
requirements for treatment of infertility established under paragraph (D)(1). 
 
(F)  Limitation. – Deductibles, co-insurance, and other cost-sharing or other 
limitations for infertility therapy may not be imposed to the extent they exceed 
the deductibles, co-insurance, and limitations that are applied to similar services 
under the group health plan or health insurance coverage. 
 


 
 
(G)  Prohibitions. – A group health plan and a health insurance issuer, offering group 
health insurance coverage, in connection with a group health plan, may not – 
(1)  Deny to a participant or beneficiary eligibility, or continued eligibility, to 
enroll or to renew coverage under the terms of the plan, solely for the 
purpose of avoiding the requirements of this section; 
(2)  Provide incentives, either monetary or otherwise, to a participant or 
beneficiary to encourage such participant or beneficiary not to be provided 
infertility treatments to which they are entitled under this section or to 
providers to induce such providers not to provide such measurements to 
qualified participants or beneficiaries; 
(3)  Prohibit a provider from discussing with a participant or beneficiary 
infertility treatment techniques or medical treatment options relating to this 
section; or 
(4)  Penalize or otherwise reduce or limit the reimbursement of a provider 
because such provider provided infertility treatments to a qualified 
participant or beneficiary in accordance with this section. 
 
(H)  Rule of Construction. – Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a 
participant or beneficiary to undergo infertility therapy. 
 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulations contrary 
to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,