HB1427: HB1427 State employees; require state health benefit plan to cover cranial prostheses for certain covered persons

Georgia's state health benefit plan covers public school teachers and employees, state employees, University System of Georgia members, dependents, and retirees. Currently the plan is not required to cover medical wigs or hairpieces for people who lose their hair due to illness or medical treatment. HB1427 would add a new section to Georgia law requiring the state health benefit plan to cover cranial prostheses, defined as medical wigs or hairpieces, for covered persons who experience permanent or temporary full or partial hair loss when a licensed provider prescribes the prosthesis as part of treatment for a diagnosed condition such as alopecia, cancer, chemotherapy or radiation side effects, or scalp injuries. This coverage would begin January 1, 2027. The plan could apply its normal deductibles and copayments to this benefit, but could not impose special extra limits on it that don't apply to other covered medical devices.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 45-18-4.3) requiring the state health benefit plan to cover cranial prostheses, defined as medical wigs or hairpieces, for eligible covered persons.
• Defines alopecia broadly to include several medical subtypes and defines 'covered person' as anyone enrolled in the state health benefit plan.
• Sets the coverage requirement to begin January 1, 2027, for people prescribed a cranial prosthesis as part of treatment for conditions like alopecia, cancer treatment, or scalp injuries.
• Allows the plan to apply its normal deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments to this benefit, but bars any special extra cost-sharing limits that don't apply to other covered medical devices or services.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new coverage requirement.

State employees, public school teachers and employees, University System of Georgia employees, their dependents, and retirees who are enrolled in Georgia's state health benefit plan, particularly those experiencing hair loss from alopecia, cancer treatment, or scalp injuries.

People on the state health benefit plan who lose hair from illness or medical treatment would gain guaranteed access to insurance coverage for a medical wig or hairpiece starting in 2027, subject to the plan's normal deductibles and copayments rather than special extra restrictions.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 45-18-4.3 to Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, covering state employee health benefits.
• Subsection (a) defines key terms including alopecia, cost-sharing requirement, covered person, cranial prosthesis, and state health benefit plan.
• Subsection (b) requires coverage of cranial prostheses beginning January 1, 2027, for covered persons with hair loss from a diagnosed condition when prescribed by a licensed provider.
• Subsection (c) requires the same cost-sharing rules that apply to other covered benefits, and bars special extra limitations not applied to other medical devices or services.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Inga Willis (D, HD-055)Primary sponsor
• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)
• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

• state employee health insurance
• alopecia coverage
• cancer treatment benefits
• medical wigs
• health insurance mandates