Family Planning
Benefits to help you grow your family.
Employees at most hospitals and member organizations who regularly work at least 20 hours per week are eligible for adoption and surrogacy assistance.
All employees are eligible to use on-site lactation rooms.
Adoption assistance
This benefit is not available to Johns Hopkins Medical Associates or Johns Hopkins Care at Home employees
JHHS will help pay these eligible adoption expenses:
- Agency, court and legal fees
- Medical and hospital services
- Transportation and lodging
- Temporary foster care
For all eligible employees except Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, JHHS will reimburse up to:
- Employees who work 30–40 hours per week: $5,000 for one child or $10,000 for two children adopted at the same time.
- Employees who work 20–29 hours per week: $2,500 for one child or $5,000 for two children adopted at the same time.
If you’re a Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital employee who regularly works at least 30 hours per week, JHHS will reimburse up to $3,000 per child with a lifetime benefit of $6,000 per family.
How to apply
Submit the following to the HR Support Center at [email protected] within six months of the adoption:
- Adoption Assistance Application:
- All eligible employees except Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital employees
- A copy of the birth and adoption certificate
- Itemized receipts for eligible expenses
Once approved, your reimbursement will be included in your paycheck within four weeks.
Surrogacy assistance
If you’ve completed at least one year of employment with JHHS, you can be reimbursed for eligible agency and court fees and legal expenses associated with using a gestational surrogate.
In any two-year period, JHHS will reimburse each family up to:
- $15,000 for one gestational surrogacy.
- $30,000 for two gestational surrogacies at the same time.
How to apply
You must be employed with JHHS when the child is born to be reimbursed.
Submit the following to the HR Support Center at [email protected] within 90 days of birth:
- Gestational Surrogacy Reimbursement Request and Affidavit
- A copy of the birth certificate
- Itemized receipts for eligible expenses
Once approved, your reimbursement will be included in your paycheck within four weeks.
Legal assistance for family and personal matters
MetLife prepaid legal services offer assistance for things like adoption, affidavits, guardianship, reproductive assistance and much more. See if the legal plan is right for you.
Lactation rooms
To help make the transition back to work easier, JHHS provides registered lactation rooms equipped with hospital-grade pumps (Ameda Platinum or Medela Symphony) across Johns Hopkins’ campuses.
Visit Lactation Support to view locations, register to use a room or request accommodations.
Resources, referrals and help with daily life
All employees and their family members have access to these resources through the Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP):
- A work-life specialist who can provide referrals for adoption agencies, childcare, household help and more.
- An online library of articles and resources about adoption, parenting, child well-being and more.
Visit the BeWell Member Platform and select Be At Ease > Child Care or Find more resources on the right side of the home screen. Select the category for the work-life support you are seeking and submit your request. Or call 888-978-1262 to speak with a work-life specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Are adoption and gestational surrogacy reimbursements taxable?
Adoption reimbursements are subject only to FICA withholdings.
Gestational surrogacy reimbursements are fully taxable and reflected on your W-2 as regular income. JHHS will withhold any applicable taxes from your reimbursement payment.
Can I be reimbursed for both adoption and gestational surrogacy expenses?
No. If you’re adopting a child who is being born through gestational surrogacy, you can’t be reimbursed for both adoption and surrogacy expenses.
Contacts
HR Support Center
Adoption and surrogacy assistance
443-997-5400
[email protected]
Johns Hopkins Emploee Assistance Program (JHEAP)
888-978-1262
BeWell Member Platform