Healthcare (Women's Health)

This bill amends multiple health insurance laws to expand access to midwifery services and clarify coverage for pregnancy care. It updates definitions in chapters 32A, 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G to include "licensed certified professional midwives" alongside existing providers and removes language restricting coverage for "abortion or abortion-related care" in insurance plans. The changes require health insurers, health plans, and Medicaid managed care organizations to comply with these updated coverage standards. The bill directly affects health insurance plans subject to these chapters, ensuring broader access to midwifery services and removing prior exclusions for abortion-related care within pregnancy coverage.

This bill amends Massachusetts health insurance laws to expand coverage for midwifery services. It updates definitions in multiple statutes to include "licensed certified professional midwives" alongside existing providers and removes the phrase "for abortion or abortion-related care" from coverage exclusions. These changes apply to health insurance policies under Chapters 32A, 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G, requiring insurers to cover a broader range of midwifery services without prior restrictions. The commissioner of health insurance must ensure compliance with these updated requirements.

This bill adds pregnancy as a qualifying event for special enrollment in Massachusetts' state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. It allows pregnant individuals to enroll in a health plan within 30 days of pregnancy start (with certification from a licensed healthcare provider) and requires coverage to be effective the first day of the following month. The change directly affects pregnant people seeking health insurance, removing typical enrollment barriers during pregnancy. Coverage must begin no later than the first day of the month after certification is received. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.