HB 1478 Summary

• Requires health insurance policies covering Mississippi residents that provide pregnancy-related benefits to cover medically necessary infertility diagnosis and treatment expenses, including artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, egg/sperm procurement, and related procedures, with a $25,000 lifetime benefit cap per person.

• Coverage applies to married individuals only (except for fertility preservation to avoid treatment-induced infertility), subject to the same deductibles and out-of-pocket limits as maternity benefits, with no limit on the number of treatment cycles covered.

• Requires coverage of infertility diagnostic tests and procedures including hysterosalpingogram, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, semen analysis, blood tests, and ultrasounds, plus surgical procedures to correct reproductive organ diseases.

• Establishes a one-year pilot program in the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan covering up to 100 eligible participants with at least one year of plan coverage, requiring the board to report results to the Legislature by December 1, 2020.

• Amends Section 25-15-9 to include infertility diagnosis and treatment coverage in the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan; effective July 1, 2019.