{"id":9245,"date":"2026-04-24T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/menopause-coverage-bills-meet-mixed-fates-in-state-legislatures\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T08:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:00:15","slug":"menopause-coverage-bills-meet-mixed-fates-in-state-legislatures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/menopause-coverage-bills-meet-mixed-fates-in-state-legislatures\/","title":{"rendered":"Menopause coverage bills meet mixed fates in state legislatures"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Several states are considering bills related to mandated insurance coverage for menopause and perimenopause, as well as other proposals, saying it improves quality of life and work productivity when people can access care to mitigate symptoms. Some states have already rejected the idea this session. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A handful of states are considering legislation this session related to menopause and perimenopause, including proposals to mandate coverage and others to include work protections for people experiencing symptoms related to the conditions. Others have already said no to similar bills.<\/p>\n

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Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, according to the\u00a0National Institute on Aging<\/a>, with an average age of 52. The hormonal changes associated with menopause \u2014 when a woman stops having menstrual periods \u2014 can cause hot flashes, night sweats, joint problems, insomnia, mood changes and more. For several years leading up to menopause, women may also experience symptoms classified as perimenopause, when menstrual cycles become more irregular and hormones fluctuate, leading to some symptoms that mimic menopause.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bills are pending in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, while others have already failed.\u00a0One bill<\/a>, already passed in New Jersey, mandates coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of\u00a0menopause-related health issues<\/a>, which includes treatment for brittle bones, pelvic floor physical therapy, hormonal therapies and behavioral health care services. It\u2019s now law, after Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed it before leaving office in January.<\/p>\n

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N.J. Assemblyman Roy Freiman, a Democrat, told States Newsroom the main sponsor of the bill was his Democratic colleague, Assemblywoman Heather Simmons, but he supported its passage and co-sponsored it.\u00a0\n

\u201cThere\u2019s things we (men) will never experience, and we don\u2019t know, and we have to be supportive,\u201d Freiman said.<\/p>\n

The fiscal impact of the bill was unclear based on the state office analysis, but Freiman said it\u2019s not just about the up-front costs. Factors like quality of life, life longevity, and lost productivity from work are harder to measure, including the long-term complications that can come with certain conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

According to a\u00a0Mayo Clinic study<\/a> published in 2023, menopause-related symptoms cost an estimated $1.8 billion in lost work time each year, and the medical expenses cost more than $26 billion per year.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can extrapolate someone feeling better to economics, if you really just want to think about it from a spreadsheet perspective,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Four other states mandate insurance coverage for menopause treatments \u2014\u00a0Illinois<\/a>,\u00a0Louisiana<\/a>,\u00a0Oregon<\/a> and\u00a0Washington<\/a>. California has authorized providers to be professionally licensed for menopause education, but Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed two bills that would have required health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment costs, saying it would increase health care costs. Newsom did include expansion of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal health care as part of his\u00a0budget proposal<\/a> for the 2026-27 fiscal year after criticism of the vetoes, including from actress Halle Berry.<\/p>\n

Maine passed\u00a0a bill<\/a> in 2025 directing the state health department to create informational materials on the issue, providing $40,000 through 2027 for the effort.\u00a0 Still other states, including those with Democratic majorities, aren\u2019t ready to make the change just yet.<\/p>\n

Colorado<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Bill 26<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Would have required all health benefit plans in the state and the Medicaid program to provide coverage for hormone replacement therapy as directed by licensed physicians for women experiencing menopause or perimenopause.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Failed after House Committee on Health & Human Services postponed it indefinitely on Feb. 24<\/p>\n

Sponsor:<\/strong>\u00a0Republican Rep. Rebecca Keltie<\/p>\n

Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Bill 161<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>This bill, along with an identical version in the Senate, would have required the Florida Department of Health to establish a perimenopause and menopause policy workgroup to develop communications strategies for a public education effort.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Failed in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee on March 13<\/p>\n

Sponsor:<\/strong>\u00a0Democratic Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson<\/p>\n

Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Bill 988<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>This Republican-sponsored bill would require the state employee health insurance plan to cover hormone replacement therapy for biological women experiencing menopause and perimenopause.<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong>\u00a0Awaiting a vote from the Georgia House of Representatives since January<\/p>\n

Sponsors:<\/strong>\u00a0Republican Reps. Beth Camp, Jan Jones, Leesa Hagan, Bethany Ballard, Kimberly New and Carmen Rice<\/p>\n

Michigan<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Bill 4791<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0A bipartisan bill that requires the state health department to adopt and implement a menopause transition awareness education program, including symptoms, the range of treatment options that may be prescribed by a professional, and any other information considered appropriate for an education program.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Passed the House on March 10, pending in the Senate Committee on Health Policy<\/p>\n

Sponsors:<\/strong>\u00a0Democratic Rep. Samantha Steckloff and Republican Reps. Joseph Pavlov, Jamie Thompson, Douglas Wozniak, Kathy Schmaltz and William Bruck<\/p>\n

Missouri<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1569<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0This bill would require health benefit plans to cover the treatment of menopause before, during and after, including hormone therapy, depression medications, drugs to prevent and treat osteoporosis and topical hormone therapy.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Pending in the Senate Insurance and Banking Committee as of Feb. 5<\/p>\n

Sponsor:\u00a0<\/strong>Democratic Sen. Patty Lewis<\/p>\n

Ohio<\/strong><\/p>\n

House Bill 767<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Two Democrats, Reps. Ashley Bryant Bailey and Anita Somani, introduced this bill to require insurance and Medicaid coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of menopause, perimenopause and its associated symptoms. Bryant Bailey said the average cost of hormone therapy treatments can range between $500 to $1,000, and without mandated coverage many menopause treatments are considered elective or cosmetic,\u00a0Ohio Capital Journal reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong>\u00a0Pending in House Insurance Committee<\/p>\n

Sponsors:\u00a0<\/strong>Democratic Reps. Ashley Bryant Bailey and Anita Somani<\/p>\n

Rhode Island<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 2890<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>This bill would mandate health insurance coverage for hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat menopausal symptoms as recommended by a qualified health care provider. This bill includes menopause when it is induced by a hysterectomy, when the uterus is surgically removed for medical reasons.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Pending after being held in committee for further study on April 9<\/p>\n

Sponsors:<\/strong>\u00a0Democratic Sens. Lori Urso, Melissa Murray, Linda Ujifusa, Lammis Vargas, Pamela Lauria, Bridged Valverde and Peter Appollonio, and Republican Sen. Gordon Rogers<\/p>\n

Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 258<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>In its original form, this bill prohibited discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act on the basis of menopause and perimenopause. On April 13, Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger proposed a substitute bill that would instead direct the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce.<\/p>\n

Status:\u00a0<\/strong>Spanberger\u2019s substitute proposal passed the Senate on Wednesday, April 22, and awaits approval by the House<\/p>\n

Sponsors:\u00a0<\/strong>Democratic Sens. Stella Pekarsky and Angelia Williams Graves<\/p>\n

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