Substitute House Bill No. 6617 (sHB6617) with File No. 710 is designed to enhance equity in health insurance coverage for fertility-related services in Connecticut, effective January 1, 2024. It provides clear definitions for terms related to fertility treatments and mandates that individual and group health insurance policies cover fertility diagnostic care, fertility treatment, and fertility preservation services. The bill prohibits insurance policies from imposing age-based limitations, using prior diagnoses or treatments to restrict coverage, or setting different copayments or limitations compared to maternity benefits. It allows for certain limitations on the number of treatments covered, such as up to four oocyte retrievals and six intrauterine insemination cycles, and requires in-vitro fertilization coverage only after less expensive treatments have failed. Religious employers can opt out of coverage that conflicts with their beliefs, and the bill does not require coverage for experimental procedures or nonmedical costs related to gametes, donor embryos, or surrogacy services.

The fiscal impact of the bill includes costs to the state of at least $300,000 for FY 24 and $600,000 for FY 25, with additional costs to the State Employee Health Plan and potential costs to municipalities due to increased premiums. The bill could also result in costs under the Affordable Care Act if certain provisions are deemed new state benefit mandates. The bill requires the Department of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to provide fertility treatment coverage if medically necessary and permissible under federal law. The bill has been favorably reported by the Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee.