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S2890AHealth Insurance

Insurance - Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies

This bill requires health insurance plans to cover medical treatments for peri-menopause and menopause symptoms starting in 2027.

Introduced37 Yea0 Nay1 Not voting
Population
Affected
28
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires all individual and group health insurance plans in Rhode Island to cover medically necessary therapies for treating the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Starting January 1, 2027, insurance companies must cover at least one FDA-approved hormonal treatment and one non-hormonal treatment. Additionally, they must provide coverage for at least one hormone replacement therapy option in each of the following forms: oral (pills), transdermal (patches), topical (creams), and vaginal.

For younger readers

When women get older, their bodies go through a change called menopause, which can sometimes make them feel uncomfortable or sick. Doctors can give them special medicine to help them feel better. This new rule says that health insurance companies—the businesses that help pay for medical care—must help pay for these medicines. The insurance companies have to cover different types of this medicine, like pills, patches, or creams, starting in the year 2027.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Women experiencing menopauseHealth insurance companiesHealthcare providersEmployers providing health insurancePharmacists
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. This bill regulates the health insurance industry by mandating specific coverage requirements, which falls well within the state's traditional police powers to regulate insurance commerce and protect public health. It does not infringe upon free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Expands essential healthcare access for women, promoting gender equity in the medical field by addressing historically overlooked and underfunded health conditions.
  • Reduces out-of-pocket medical costs for individuals experiencing menopause, strengthening the social safety net and helping those who might otherwise struggle to afford care.
  • Empowers patients by ensuring access to multiple treatment options (pills, patches, creams, and vaginal therapies), allowing individuals to choose the healthcare that best fits their specific needs.
  • Delays implementation until January 2027, leaving individuals to struggle with out-of-pocket costs for these necessary treatments for several more years.
  • Fails to explicitly extend these protections to state-funded Medicaid programs, potentially leaving the poorest and most vulnerable populations without guaranteed coverage.
  • Only requires coverage for "at least one" option per category, which may allow profit-driven insurers to cover only the cheapest, least effective medications rather than the ones patients prefer.
For Conservatives
  • Supports traditional family structures by ensuring women have access to treatments that improve their overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
  • Limits the mandate strictly to "medically necessary" and FDA-approved treatments, preventing insurance companies from being forced to cover experimental or unproven alternative therapies.
  • Delays implementation until 2027, giving private insurance companies ample time to adjust their pricing models and operations without immediate disruption to their business.
  • Imposes a new government mandate on private businesses, restricting the freedom of health insurance companies to determine the contents of their own contracts.
  • Will likely drive up health insurance premiums for all consumers by forcing insurers to absorb the costs of this newly mandated specialized coverage.
  • Interferes with the free market by dictating specific treatment modalities (oral, transdermal, topical, vaginal) rather than letting consumer demand guide what coverage options insurers offer.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions
Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 40 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 27-18-96. Coverage for hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(b) Coverage for hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause under this section shall mean at least one federal Food and Drug Administration- approved hormonal and non-hormonal treatment, and at least one hormonal replacement therapy option in each of the following modalities: oral, transdermal, topical, and vaginal.

SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 27-19-88. Coverage for hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(b) Coverage for hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause under this section shall mean at least one federal Food and Drug Administration- approved hormonal and non-hormonal treatment, and at least one hormonal replacement therapy option in each of the following modalities: oral, transdermal, topical, and vaginal.

SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 27-20-84. Coverage for hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(b) Coverage for hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause under this section shall mean at least one federal Food and Drug Administration- approved hormonal and non-hormonal treatment, and at least one hormonal replacement therapy option in each of the following modalities: oral, transdermal, topical, and vaginal.

SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 27-41-101. Coverage for hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for medically necessary hormone therapy treatment to treat the symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.