How employers are balancing impact and affordability in reproductive health benefits: A conversation with The RealReal. March 23, 2026 Last week, Kindbody Group had the incredible opportunity to present at The Conference Board's Employee Healthcare Conference in New York, a premier gathering of industry leaders, forward-thinking employers, and benefits executives. The event served as a dynamic forum for exploring the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of employee healthcare. Kindbody's Founding Physician and Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Fahimeh Sasan took the stage alongside its valued employer partner, Mindy Christopher, Benefits Manager at The RealReal, to discuss one of today's most pressing topics: how employers can balance rising cost pressures with the need to deliver meaningful, high-quality care that drives employee retention and engagement. Together, they shared a candid look at what it takes to drive impact, from aligning on outcomes that matter to building solutions that are both clinically effective and financially sustainable. In addition to the conversations on stage, its team spent time connecting with employers at its booth, providing a valuable, real-time pulse on what is top of mind across the market. A few themes came up consistently: Cost control is the top priority. Employers are under increasing pressure to manage healthcare spend, with many sharing that CFOs are more involved than ever and holding teams accountable for measurable outcomes. There is a clear expectation that solutions demonstrate impact, both in terms of clinical outcomes and cost savings. As part of this focus, employers are also looking for greater transparency and alignment in how solutions are priced and utilized, with models such as Kindbody's approach of only charging for services actually provided, rather than a PEPM structure, resonating as a way to ensure spend is directly tied to value delivered. A shift toward efficiency over expansion. Rather than adding more point solutions, employers are focused on optimizing and better utilizing existing benefits. This increasingly includes auditing their current vendor ecosystem to identify underperforming or redundant solutions and, where appropriate, consolidating or replacing them with more impactful, integrated options that deliver stronger outcomes and clearer value. A shift toward efficiency over expansion was also evident, with Mindy sharing that at The RealReal they took a holistic look across their vendor ecosystem, evaluated utilization across programs, and made intentional trade-offs to reallocate existing dollars, ultimately enabling them to add Kindbody without increasing their overall budget. Family-building benefits continue to be one of the most impactful tools employers have for both recruiting and retaining talent. As competition for top talent intensifies, employees are increasingly evaluating benefits as a key factor in where they choose to work and whether they stay. As Mindy shared, "I've actually heard somebody say, 'I wanted to leave, but now with this benefit, I can't because I won't find it anywhere else.'" She noted that from a talent acquisition and retention perspective, fertility and family-building benefits can be a meaningful differentiator and "a wonderful retention strategy." Beyond retention, she emphasized the life-changing impact of these benefits, sharing that "there's people who may not have had an option before, and now they do have options," and that "it makes me feel like what I do is actually changing somebody's life - because it actually is." She also highlighted how powerful it is to hear directly from employees, including those who share their experiences with senior leadership such as the CEO, CPO, and CFO. Optionality is key. Employers are looking to provide more choice and flexibility in how employees access care, recognizing that one size does not fit all. This includes offering multiple pathways to care, more personalized benefit experiences, and solutions that can adapt to diverse employee needs. At the same time, there is a tension between offering optionality and avoiding unnecessary complexity, making thoughtful curation and guidance increasingly important. As Mindy shared in the context of menopause care, while it is not something they currently offer, it is a benefit they anticipate wanting to provide in the future as their workforce ages. Dr. Sasan noted that "the number one word I hear from women who have had appropriate menopause care is 'life-changing,'" adding that employers should be able to support "life-changing moments in our 40s and 50s when we feel more like ourselves." Taken together, the conversations at The Conference Board and insights from The RealReal reflect a clear direction for employers: reproductive health benefits must deliver measurable value, support employee needs, and operate within increasingly defined financial constraints. As employers continue to refine their strategies, those that can balance affordability with impact, while also supporting recruitment, retention, and employee experience, will be best positioned for long-term success. Kindbody. Kindbody is a new generation of women's health and fertility care. Providing you with the information you need to take control of your health and make the decisions that are right for you. Kindbody Group is a community of healthcare providers, fertility specialists, and women who get it. Kindbody Group is on a mission to democratize and de-stigmatize women's health and fertility care, making it accessible, intuitive, and empowering.

Future Family partners with Kindbody to expand access to fertility care through innovative financing solutions. Leading fertility clinic network and financing platform partner to remove financial barriers for patients nationwide. San Francisco, CA United States - WEBWIRE - Wednesday, March 18, 2026 "Future Family was born from personal experience - I built my own family through IVF and experienced first hand the high out of pocket cost of IVF. Financial stress can compound an already emotional journey," said Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Family. "We've helped more than 10,000 patients move forward with care, and partnering with Kindbody allows us to extend that support to even more families seeking compassionate, accessible fertility treatment." Future Family, the only financing platform built exclusively for fertility patients, today announced a partnership with Kindbody, a leading fertility and family-building benefits provider and fertility care delivery platform. This collaboration will provide Kindbody patients with greater access to comprehensive fertility treatments through flexible, patient-centered financing options paired with dedicated clinical and financial support. "Access to affordable, compassionate fertility care has been our mission since day one," said Brian Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Kindbody. "Partnering with Future Family allows us to remove one of the most significant barriers our patients face - the cost of treatment. Together, we're ensuring that financial constraints don't stand between people and their dreams of building a family." The partnership addresses a critical need in fertility care, where the average IVF cycle can cost $15,000-$20,000 or more, and patients often require multiple cycles. Through Future Family, Kindbody patients now have access to: * Personalized financing up to $50,000 with competitive rates and flexible terms tailored to individual treatment plans * Soft pre-qualification that doesn't impact credit scores * Dedicated Financial Specialists who customize payment plans based on each patient's unique circumstances and treatment timeline * RN Care Coaches who provide expert guidance throughout the fertility journey * Comprehensive coverage for IVF, IUI, egg freezing, medications, genetic testing, donor services, and more "Future Family was born from personal experience - I built my own family through IVF and experienced first-hand the high out of pocket cost of IVF. Financial stress can compound an already emotional journey," said Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Family. "We've helped more than 10,000 patients move forward with care, and partnering with Kindbody allows us to extend that support to even more families seeking compassionate, accessible fertility treatment." Future Family's financing features include no prepayment penalties, interest that accrues only on funds actually used, and flexibility to secure financing up to 90 days before treatment begins, with payments starting only after the initial disbursement... The platform's concierge approach ensures patients receive guidance on all aspects of their treatment costs, including medications, testing, and ancillary services. The partnership reflects both organizations' commitments to making family building more accessible, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals and families, single parents by choice, and anyone facing fertility challenges. Kindbody patients can apply for financing online and connect directly with a Future Family Financial Specialist to explore options specific to their treatment plan. About Kindbody Kindbody is a leading fertility, family-building, and women's health company offering comprehensive clinical care and benefit solutions for employers, health plans, and individuals. Through its national network of signature clinics, partner practices, and virtual care, Kindbody provides end-to-end support spanning fertility treatment, third-party reproduction, adoption, pregnancy, men's health, menopause, and holistic well-being. By combining outcomes-driven medicine, technology, and compassionate care, Kindbody is on a mission to make high-quality reproductive and family-building care more accessible, affordable, and equitable for people everywhere. To learn more about Kindbody visit www.kindbody.com. About Future Family Future Family is the only financing platform built exclusively for fertility patients. Founded by a fertility patient who built her own family through IVF, Future Family combines flexible, fixed-rate financing with dedicated clinical and financial support. Having helped more than 10,000 patients access care, Future Family's mission is to remove financial barriers so more people can build the families of their dreams. For more information, visit www.futurefamily.com. WebWireID352101 * Contact Information - Maggie Philbin - PR for Future Family - VSC for Future Family - Contact via E-mail This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted. Distribute your news. * Every day, hundreds of individuals and companies choose WebWire to distribute their news. * WebWire places your news within numerous highly trafficked news search engines generating leads and publicity. * Submit Your Release Now!