A new collaboration is extending complimentary fertility benefit management services to all members of the Coast Guard.
One in five women and around 40% of men will struggle with infertility during their lifetime, according to the CDC. Factoring in the nomadic lifestyle of military couples and the financial cost of seeking treatment, barriers to family-building can be overwhelming. WIN, whose mission is rooted in a “belief that every individual and family should have the opportunity to build and grow their family in a way that aligns with their dreams and aspirations,” is now working with Coast Guard Mutual Assistance to support Coast Guard families.
“We understand the emotional, physical and financial challenges families face, especially when it comes to fertility and family-building,” WIN CEO Dr. Roger Shedlin said. “With a commitment to achieving the best outcomes and providing an excellent patient experience, we have supported over 500,000 families. Our goal is to provide comprehensive, personalized support and resources to help families navigate these challenges and achieve their family-building and family well-being goals.”
Solutions include preconception to healthy aging, he added.
The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense. This means access to resources is greatly reduced, something that WIN recognizes. They’ve partnered with the CGMA to bring fertility support to its members.
“This initiative has the power to change lives by making parenthood achievable for all Coast Guard families and helping to alleviate some of the financial and emotional burden that accompanies infertility. WIN’s donation of services will undoubtedly contribute to the well-being of our service members and their families,” Coast Guard Commander Leah Cole said. “Babies will be brought into this world, women and men will be retained in our service, and families will be made whole through the support of WIN and CGMA.”
The donated services offered include 24/7 clinical guidance through WIN Nurse Care Advocates, reproductive behavioral support, access to WIN’s highly-credentialed qualified network of medical and pharmacy providers and on-demand clinical support and resources through the WINFamily app, according to the recent press release, along with available discounts and guided counseling on family-building options.
The partnership between WIN and CGMA emerged from a shared commitment to supporting the overall well-being and family-building needs of Coast Guard service members and their families, Shedlin says.
“Recognizing the unique challenges military families may face when building their families, such as coordinating schedules, frequent separations from partners, and navigating the limitations of coverage for fertility treatments, WIN and CGMA saw an opportunity to collaborate and provide comprehensive fertility benefit management services to Coast Guard service members,” he said.
Coast Guard families PCS every two to four years and tend to live in high cost of living areas to support the vast mission of the service. Maintaining fertility support can be challenging with the frequency and unpredictability of moves, making WIN’s resources more impactful.
“Our partnerships include the AVIATRIX project, dedicated to female naval aviators and extend to members of the Air Force, Space Force, and now the Coast Guard,” Shedlin said. “This expansion to the Coast Guard underscores our dedication to supporting military families and enhancing the well-being of military families across the board.”
CGMA is proud to host the resource and is leaning into its mission tagline: helping our own.
“We are thrilled to offer WIN’s support to our Coast Guard community’s family-building aspirations,” retired Coast Guard Rear Adm. Cari B. Thomas, CEO of CGMA, said. “CGMA is proud to be helping to shape a future where every Coast Guard member can confidently pursue their family dreams, knowing they have a steadfast support system behind them.”
WIN’s CEO adds that this work is “incredibly fulfilling.”
“Knowing that our work contributes to the well-being of families and seeing families grow and thrive as a result of our support is incredibly fulfilling and reinforces our commitment to our mission to provide support through an excellent patient experience and achieve superior outcomes,” Shedlin said.
To learn more about WIN and their resources, click here.
