Requires every individual or group health insurance contract effective on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage to the insured and the insured's spouse and dependents for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and other products.

Rhode Island Contraceptive Coverage Bill

This bill would require all individual and group health insurance plans in Rhode Island to cover contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The requirement would apply to any health insurance contract that takes effect on or after January 1, 2027. Coverage would extend not just to the primary insurance holder, but also to their spouse and dependents on the same plan.

In practical terms, this means that if this bill becomes law, Rhode Island health insurers could not offer plans that leave out FDA-approved birth control methods. This would apply to a wide range of contraceptive options — such as pills, patches, IUDs, implants, and other approved products — since the bill covers all FDA-approved forms rather than a specific list. People who currently have plans that don't fully cover certain contraceptive options could see those gaps filled once their plan renews under the new rules.

The bill primarily affects Rhode Island residents who have health insurance, as well as the insurance companies that sell plans in the state. Employers who provide group health coverage to their workers would also be impacted, since their plans would need to meet the new coverage standard. The bill was recently introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. No final vote has taken place yet.