HB 5374 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH COVERAGE MANDATES FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS.

HB 5374 requires individual health insurance policies in Connecticut that cover chemotherapy to also provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used to prevent hair loss during treatment. This applies to policies delivered, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2027, and mandates coverage "at least equivalent to such coverage provided under Medicare." The bill specifically targets policies covering certain chemotherapy-related treatments, directly affecting patients receiving chemotherapy who may use scalp cooling systems. It does not apply to group plans or other insurance types, focusing solely on individual health insurance policies meeting the specified coverage criteria.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → INS Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to shift its focus from requiring health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems used during chemotherapy to requiring coverage for specific pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders (PANDAS/PANS) and their treatments, such as intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. This change alters the scope of mandatory benefits, removing cancer-related hair loss treatments while adding new mental health coverage requirements for children.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from covering cancer treatment adjuncts (scalp cooling) to covering specific pediatric autoimmune and neuropsychiatric conditions.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced the requirement for scalp cooling system coverage with a requirement to cover Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, including intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

DEFINITION

Updated the list of sections referenced in the definitions section to include sections 2 through 5, and removed the standalone definition for 'scalp cooling system'.

REQUIREMENT

Adjusted the list of health insurance policy types subject to the new coverage mandate to exclude subdivision (13) of the referenced statute.

Floor votes · Senate May 4, 2026 · House Apr 23, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed

Total votes 36

May 4, 2026

D Democratic25

25 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican11

11 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 28, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

lower

May 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

SENATE PASSED

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Amended

HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Insurance and Real Estate

lower

52 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

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State

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