MN HF2737

Health plans issued or renewed to Minnesota employers must cover all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, patient education, and counseling without any cost-sharing requirements for enrollees.

Religious employers meeting specific criteria (inculcating religious values, employing and serving persons who share religious tenets, and organized as nonprofits under IRC sections 6033(a)(1) and 6033(a)(3)(A)) are completely exempt from the contraceptive coverage requirement.

Nonprofit employers with institutional religious beliefs opposed to contraceptive coverage are not required to provide the coverage or subsidize its cost, but health plan companies must offer it directly to their employees at no charge.

The requirement applies only to health plans that provide prescription drug coverage and becomes effective August 1, 2012, for coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, or continued on or after that date.