Family Building Benefit

2023 Plan Information

Fertility, Adoption and Surrogacy

Families are formed in many ways – and no matter how you grow yours, the Firm supports you. Beginning in 2022, we enhanced our family building benefit, giving employees greater financial assistance and flexibility. Employees are eligible to receive a $75,000 lifetime benefit to help cover the cost of fertility services, adoption and/or surrogacy.

You may use the family building benefit toward fertility* (to cover medical and prescription drug costs for IVF, egg- and sperm-freezing, for example), adoption, surrogacy – or any combination of the three. Previously, the fertility lifetime maximum was $30,000 and there were $10,000 per child maximums for adoption and surrogacy.

Eligibility requirements will remain the same – the fertility benefit is available to employees and dependents enrolled in the Firm’s medical plan with Cigna or UnitedHealthcare, while the adoption and surrogacy benefit is available to all benefits-eligible employees.

Note: If you received fertility services through the Firm’s health plan or received adoption/surrogacy reimbursements before January 1, 2022, those amounts will apply toward your new $75,000 lifetime maximum. As of January 1, 2022, you may submit eligible adoption and surrogacy claims and expenses towards the remaining amount of your family building fund, up to the lifetime maximum of $75,000. Prior expenses that were denied will not be re-processed. Eligible fertility claims are automatically applied toward the family building benefit through the applicable medical plan.

*The $75,000 fertility maximum for medical and prescription drug costs applies to employees and dependents enrolled in Cigna or UnitedHealthcare. Kaiser, HMSA and Cigna Global members have separate fertility coverage and maximums through their respective health plan. For additional information, check the Health Benefits and Insurances Summary Plan Description or call your health plan.

***

Below is more information on fertility, adoption and surrogacy – as well as other benefits to support you and your family.

Fertility

The Firm covers fertility services for employees and dependents enrolled in the Firm’s Medical Plan through Cigna or UnitedHealthcare up to the $75,000 family-building lifetime maximum. You do not need to have a diagnosis of infertility to be covered. The benefit covers medical and prescription drug expenses and includes a variety of fertility treatments, including IVF, egg- and sperm-freezing (storage covered for 12 months).

After meeting your annual medical deductible, Cigna and UHC cover up to 80% of the cost of in-network fertility-related care. Additionally,

  • Cigna covers 60% of the reasonable and customary cost of care provided by out-of-network providers after your annual deductible is met.
  • UHC requires members to enroll in the UHC Fertility Solutions program and receive fertility treatment at a UHC center of Excellence to receive coverage. The program will help you maximize your fertility benefit and select effective treatment options.

Note: Members are responsible for paying their deductible and coinsurance for all fertility claims; these out-of-pocket costs are not eligible for reimbursement through the family building benefit and will not be applied toward the lifetime maximum.

UHC Fertility Solutions Program

Upon enrolling in the program, you will have access to care from a specialized fertility Center of Excellence. These Centers of Excellence provide best-in-class care from world-class practitioners. Clinics meet best-practice criteria based on pregnancy and delivery outcomes, which increases the likelihood of getting pregnant and lowers the likelihood of twins or triplets. Additionally, an experienced fertility nurse will help you make informed decisions about your health care and answer your questions throughout your fertility treatment.

If you are enrolled in the Firm’s health plan through UHC, you are required to use a Center of Excellence for all fertility treatments for your treatments to be covered by the plan. Any fertility services obtained at a facility that is not a UHC center of excellence or by an out-of-network provider will not be covered by the plan, and the participant will be required to pay the full cost of treatment.

To identify a UHC Center of Excellence, call UHC’s Fertility Solutions team at 1-866-774-4626.

For more information, refer to the Health Benefits and Insurances Summary Plan Description.

Adoption

For employees welcoming new family members through adoption, the Firm reimburses certain eligible adoption-related expenses up to your previously unused $75,000 family-building lifetime maximum.

Employees who have completed a qualifying adoption may submit a claim through Maven’s reimbursement program, Maven Wallet, within six months following the date the adoption is finalized (and before an employment termination date, if applicable). After submission of eligible expenses, employees will receive a lump-sum reimbursement to cover the cost of certain adoption-related expenses. Qualified adoption-related expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Adoption fees
  • Attorney fees and court costs
  • Travel expenses, including lodging and meals while away from home to adopt the child

Note that per IRS guidelines, adoption assistance can be excluded from taxable income up to a maximum of $15,590 per child in 2023. This amount varies by income level and may increase on an annual basis. Any per child reimbursement above this amount will be taxable. Taxes applicable to adoption expenses paid under this Program are the responsibility of the employee.

To get started with Maven Wallet, download the Maven Clinic app and activate your account. For more information, see the Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance Benefits Summary Plan Description.

Surrogacy

For employees welcoming new family members through surrogacy, the Firm reimburses certain eligible surrogacy-related expenses up to your previously unused $75,000 family-building lifetime maximum.

Employees who experience a completed surrogacy event (defined as a live birth or failed surrogacy arrangement, such as an unsuccessful pregnancy or failed surrogate IVF cycle) may submit a claim through Maven’s reimbursement program, Maven Wallet, within six months following the completed surrogacy event (and before an employment termination date, if applicable). After submission of eligible expenses, employees will receive a lump-sum reimbursement to cover the cost of certain surrogacy-related expenses. Qualified surrogacy-related expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Health care expenses for the surrogate mother related to the conception, pregnancy and delivery of the baby pursuant to the surrogacy agreement
  • Surrogacy agency and legal fees
  • Travel expenses, including lodging and meals while away from home after the surrogacy arrangement has been executed

Note that per IRS guidelines, all reimbursement amounts for surrogacy will be subject to applicable federal and state taxes. Taxes applicable to surrogacy expenses paid under this Program are the responsibility of the employee.

To get started with Maven Wallet, download the Maven Clinic app and activate your account. For more information, see the Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance Summary Plan Description.

Additional Family Support Benefits

In addition to your $75,000 family-building fund, Morgan Stanley offers this suite of family support benefits and resources:

Legal Plan

  • Includes up to 20 hours of surrogacy or reproductive assistance
  • Covers all legal services and court work when adopting in a state or federal court for the plan member and spouse/domestic partner

Child Care and Educational Services

Medical Second Opinons

Mental Health Benefit