HB 588: Insurance; coverage for fertility diagnostic care, treatment, and preservation services; provide

Currently Georgia law does not require health insurers to cover fertility related care. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.30) requiring insurers that offer health benefit policies in the state to cover fertility diagnostic care, fertility treatment, and fertility preservation services for people who qualify as fertility patients, including those with infertility, those lacking necessary reproductive cells for conception, and couples at increased risk of passing on serious genetic conditions. The required coverage must include at least three complete egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers from those retrievals, following American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines. Insurers cannot impose waiting periods, use prior diagnoses to limit coverage, restrict coverage based on use of donor gametes or surrogacy, or discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, or disability. The bill does not require coverage of experimental procedures or nonmedical surrogacy costs, and it directs the Insurance Commissioner to write implementing rules. The requirement applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

• Requires insurers offering health benefit policies in Georgia to cover fertility diagnostic care, fertility treatment, and fertility preservation services starting January 1, 2026.
• Mandates coverage of at least three complete egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers from those retrievals, following medical society guidelines.
• Bars insurers from imposing waiting periods, using prior diagnoses to deny coverage, or limiting coverage based on use of donor gametes, embryos, or surrogacy.
• Prohibits insurers from applying different coverage limits based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
• Excludes experimental fertility procedures and nonmedical surrogacy or donor costs from the required coverage.
• Directs the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules on cost-sharing, benefit design, and clinical guidelines for implementing the new coverage mandate.

People seeking fertility care in Georgia, including individuals and couples with infertility, those lacking necessary reproductive cells for conception, and couples at risk of passing on serious genetic conditions; health insurers that sell policies in the state; and the Georgia Insurance Commissioner, who must write implementing rules.

Georgians with fertility challenges currently may face fertility care costs entirely out of pocket. This bill would require insurers to pay for diagnostic testing, treatment, and preservation services, including multiple egg retrievals, potentially lowering costs for patients while creating new coverage obligations for insurers starting in 2026.

• Adds new Code section 33-24-59.30 defining key terms like fertility patient, infertility, fertility preservation services, and experimental fertility procedure.
• Subsection (b) requires insurers to cover fertility diagnostic care, fertility treatment, and fertility preservation services beginning January 1, 2026.
• Subsection (c) sets a minimum coverage standard of three complete egg retrievals with unlimited resulting embryo transfers.
• Subsection (e) bars waiting periods, exclusions based on prior diagnosis, donor gamete or surrogacy restrictions, and discrimination based on protected characteristics.
• Subsection (f) requires any insurer coverage limitations to be based on medical history and clinical guidelines that are documented and shared with patients within three business days of a request.
• Subsection (g) exempts experimental fertility procedures and nonmedical donor or surrogacy costs from required coverage.
• Subsection (h) directs the Insurance Commissioner to adopt implementing rules covering cost-sharing and benefit design.
• Subsection (i) applies the requirements to policies and contracts issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-02-26House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-21House Hopper (House)

• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)Primary sponsor
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)

• health insurance coverage
• fertility treatment
• infertility
• reproductive health policy
• insurance regulation