SB 518: Insurance; health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary treatments of alopecia universalis; require

Currently Georgia law does not specifically require health insurers to cover treatment for alopecia universalis, a severe autoimmune condition that causes complete loss of body hair. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. Title 33, Chapter 24) requiring health insurers offering individual or group health benefit policies in the state to cover medically necessary diagnosis and treatment costs for the condition, including FDA-approved oral medications, corticosteroids, phototherapy, and cranial prostheses (wigs prescribed for medical hair loss). The bill says insurers cannot charge higher deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for this coverage than they charge for other covered benefits. It does not stop insurers from offering better coverage than the minimum required. Self-funded employer health plans governed by the federal ERISA law are excluded. The requirement applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and all contracts are treated as renewing on their first anniversary after that date.

• Requires health insurers offering health benefit policies in Georgia to cover medically necessary treatment for alopecia universalis starting January 1, 2027.
• Defines covered treatments to include FDA-approved oral medications, corticosteroids, phototherapy, and cranial prostheses (medical wigs).
• Bars insurers from imposing special deductibles, copays, or coinsurance limits on this coverage beyond what applies to other covered benefits.
• Excludes self-funded employer health plans covered by the federal ERISA law from the new requirement.
• Allows insurers to offer coverage more generous than the law's minimum without penalty.

People diagnosed with alopecia universalis and their families, health insurers and health maintenance organizations selling individual or group plans in Georgia, and employers offering fully insured group health plans. Self-funded employer plans governed by federal ERISA law are not affected.

People with alopecia universalis could gain guaranteed insurance coverage for medications, phototherapy, and medical wigs, potentially lowering their out-of-pocket costs. Insurers would need to add this coverage to plans sold in Georgia, which could affect premiums or plan design starting in 2027.

• New Code section 33-24-59.37(a) defines alopecia universalis, cost-sharing requirement, covered person, health benefit policy, and health insurer.
• Subsection (b) requires coverage of medically necessary diagnosis and treatment costs, including FDA-approved oral medications, corticosteroids, phototherapy, and cranial prostheses, beginning January 1, 2027.
• Subsection (c) requires that cost-sharing for this coverage match cost-sharing for other covered benefits, barring special extra limits.
• Subsection (d) clarifies insurers may offer more generous benefits than the minimum required.
• Subsection (e) applies the requirement to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and deems all contracts renewed by their first anniversary.

1. 2026-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-17Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)Primary sponsor

• health insurance coverage
• alopecia treatment
• insurance mandates
• medical benefits