Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy assistance

U.S. team members who work 20 hours or more per week are eligible. You must be employed by Gen at the time of placement (not when the adoption is finalized) and at the time of reimbursement.

An eligible child for adoption is under 18 years old or physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves.

Covered expenses

These adoption expenses can be reimbursed:

• Legal fees and court fees
• Adoption agency and placement fees
• Home study fees
• Pregnancy medical expenses for the birth of the child, if not covered by another source
• Temporary foster care expenses
• Counseling for parents related to placement or adjustment, if not covered by another source (including the Gen EAP)
• Travel expenses for the child or adoptive parents
• Expenses for adopting your domestic partner’s children

You cannot receive reimbursement for expenses related to adopting a relative, such as a cousin, niece, nephew, brother, or sister. Legal fees for obtaining guardianship or custody of your own child also cannot be reimbursed.

Within 12 months after the adoption is finalized, submit the required documentation to People & Payroll SupportNow:

• The adoption assistance reimbursement form [PDF]
• The final adoption decree
• Itemized bills and receipts for all expenses you want to claim (you must submit them all at one time)

You should consult a tax advisor to understand the tax implications of the reimbursement. The adoption assistance program reimbursement is exempt from federal income tax. The reimbursement will be subject to withholding for any state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, as required by law.

Stepparents are not eligible for the tax exclusion, but Gen will gross up the taxable amount for the adoption of a stepchild so you receive the full benefit. 
For more information, see IRS Form 8839 [PDF].

U.S. team members who work 20 hours or more per week are eligible. You must be employed by Gen at the time the expenses are incurred, substantiated, and approved.

Expenses eligible for reimbursement are reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to a surrogacy, including:

• Court costs and attorney fees
• Legal fees incurred for review and negotiation of the surrogacy contract or incurred in connection with acquiring legal parenting rights, including expenses associated with obtaining a prebirth order
• Surrogate agency fees
• Egg or sperm donation agency fees
• Gestational carrier and egg or sperm donor screening costs, egg or sperm retrieval fees, IVF, and medical costs, if not covered by another source
• Gestational carrier and egg or sperm donor compensation
• Egg or sperm donation shipping and transport fees
• IVF costs and pregnancy medical expenses related to surrogacy and egg or sperm donation not covered by another source
• Travel expenses for the intended parents, including meals and lodging
• Adoption expenses related to a surrogacy event that aren’t eligible for submission under the adoption assistance program

The maximum lifetime limit for surrogacy cost reimbursement is $10,000.

• All medical expenses related to the surrogacy, including screening, testing, evaluations, drugs, retrieval, storage, insemination, IVF, prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care if covered under the surrogate mother’s medical plan or your or your spouse’s or domestic partner’s medical plan
• Medical expenses for third parties, including a sperm, egg, or embryo donor, if already covered under the third party’s plan
• Expenses paid directly to the surrogate mother and not through an agency
• Surrogacy expenses without a valid surrogacy contract or in violation of applicable law
• Short-term disability or insurance expenses for the surrogate
• Expenses reimbursed under Gen’s adoption assistance program or any other Gen benefit plan or program
• Any expenses reimbursed to you by any other entity, including under another employer plan or program, governmental program, or service (e.g., legal fees covered by a prepaid insurance program or any other employer reimbursement program)

Within 12 months after the child is born (or the surrogacy attempt is unsuccessful), submit the required documentation to People & Payroll SupportNow:

• The surrogacy assistance reimbursement form [PDF]
• The child’s birth certificate (unless the surrogacy attempt is unsuccessful)
• Itemized bills and receipts for all expenses you want to claim (you must submit them all at one time)

Reimbursements will be issued through Gen payroll, and Gen will report the reimbursement as taxable income on your W-2. The reimbursement will be taxable and subject to withholding for federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, as required by law.