This bill mandates that all individual or group health insurance contracts, plans, or policies issued in the state must provide coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products, including voluntary sterilization procedures and related clinical services, without imposing any cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. The coverage must also allow for the dispensing of up to a 365-day supply of contraceptives at one time, and it must not exclude contraceptives used for non-contraceptive purposes, such as reducing the risk of ovarian cancer. The Department of Health is tasked with monitoring compliance, adopting necessary regulations, conducting random reviews, and submitting an annual report to the general assembly.

The bill also addresses the rights of religious employers, allowing them to exclude coverage for contraceptive methods that conflict with their religious beliefs, but they must provide written notice to prospective enrollees about the services they do not cover. However, this exclusion does not apply to contraceptive services provided for non-contraceptive purposes. The bill includes penalties for plans that violate these provisions and clarifies that coverage should not be restricted for FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptives at in-network pharmacies. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with specific provisions becoming effective on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
7255: 27-18-57, 27-19-48, 27-20-43, 27-41-59