---
title: SB 518. Insurance; health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary treatments of alopecia universalis; require
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb518
cite_as: SB 518, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb518
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb518.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb518/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73265
date: 2026-02-18
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb518.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 518
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-17
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Shawn Still
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB518/2025
upstream_id: 2118712
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- health insurance coverage
- alopecia treatment
- insurance mandates
- medical benefits
---
# SB 518. Insurance; health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary treatments of alopecia universalis; require
## Text
Senate Bill 518
By: Senator Still of the 48th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
insurance generally, so as to require health benefit policy coverage for medically necessary
treatments of alopecia universalis; to provide for definitions; to provide for cost sharing; to
provide for statutory construction; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance
generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"33-24-59.37.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Alopecia universalis' or 'alopecia areata universalis' means a severe autoimmune
condition causing the complete loss of body hair.
(2) 'Cost-sharing requirement' means a deductible, coinsurance, or copayment and any
maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or
similar out-of-pocket expense.
(3) 'Covered person' means an individual covered under a health benefit policy.
(4) 'Health benefit policy' means an individual or group plan, policy, or contract for
healthcare services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state which
provides major medical benefits by a healthcare corporation, health maintenance
organization, preferred provider organization, fraternal benefit society, hospital service
corporation, medical service corporation, or other health insurer or similar entity. Such
term shall not include self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance plans subject to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as codified and amended at 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq.
(5) 'Health insurer' means any person, corporation, or other entity authorized to provide
health benefit policies under this title.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2027, any health insurer offering a health benefit policy in this
state shall provide coverage for medically necessary patient care costs incurred in
connection with the diagnosis and treatment of Alopecia universalis. Such covered costs
include United States Food and Drug Administration approved oral medications,
corticosteroids, phototherapy, and cranial prostheses.
(c) The benefits of a health benefit policy as provided in subsection (b) of this Code
section shall be subject to the same cost-sharing requirements established for other covered
benefits within such health benefit policy. Special deductibles, coinsurance, copayment,
or other limitations that are not generally applicable to other medical devices or services
covered by a health benefit policy shall not be imposed regarding coverage for Alopecia
universalis.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit a health insurer from issuing
or renewing a health benefit policy which provides benefits greater than the minimum
benefits required under this Code section or from issuing or renewing a policy which
provides benefits which are generally more favorable to the covered person than those
required under this Code section.
(e)(1) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to all policies, contracts, and
certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state
on or after January 1, 2027.
(2) For purposes of this Code section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later
than the first anniversary of the contract date."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate bill would require health insurance plans sold in the state to cover medically necessary treatment for alopecia universalis, including FDA-approved medications, phototherapy, and cranial prostheses, starting January 1, 2027.
### Plain-language summary
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.
### What it does
- 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.
### Who it affects
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.
### Why it matters
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.
### Key provisions
- 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-17)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-18)
- Sponsors: Shawn Still
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73265
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb518.md?full=1