The bill amends the General Laws to require that all individual or group health insurance contracts issued in the state on or after January 1, 2026, provide comprehensive coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and related services. This includes coverage for voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education, counseling, and follow-up services, all without any cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles or copayments. The bill mandates that health plans cannot impose restrictions on the quantity of contraceptives dispensed, allowing for a twelve-month supply to be provided at once. Additionally, it requires Medicaid to cover a twelve-month supply of contraceptives for recipients and ensures that benefits are equal for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents.

The bill allows religious employers to exclude coverage for contraceptive methods that conflict with their religious beliefs; however, this exclusion does not apply to contraceptive services provided for non-contraceptive medical purposes. It also prohibits utilization controls that limit the supply of contraceptives and mandates that if a therapeutic equivalent exists for a contraceptive product, insurance must cover either the original product or at least one equivalent. The health insurance commissioner is tasked with monitoring compliance, conducting random reviews, and engaging stakeholders in the rule-making process, with annual reports on compliance efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of these provisions.

Statutes affected:
268: 27-18-57, 27-19-48, 27-20-43, 27-41-59
268  SUB A: 27-18-57, 27-19-48, 27-20-43, 27-41-59