RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 299 (HB 186) 2023 Regular Session Davis
New law requires a health coverage plan (plan) that provides hospital, medical, or surgical
benefits to cover medically necessary expenses for standard fertility preservation services for
a covered individual who undergoes a medical treatment for cancer that may directly or
indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. Requires a plan to cover the costs associated with
storage of oocytes and sperm for a minimum of 3 years, but authorizes a plan to exclude such
storage costs thereafter.
New law prohibits a plan from requiring preauthorization for coverage, but authorizes a plan
to contain provisions for maximum benefits and applications of deductibles, copayments,
coinsurances, and reasonable limitations and exclusions to the extent that these applications
are not inconsistent with new law.
New law authorizes a religious employer to submit to a health insurance issuer a written
request for exemption when the employer's beliefs and practices conflict with the
requirements of new law. Requires a religious employer exempt from new law to provide
written notice of its exemption to prospective enrollees of its plan. Further authorizes an
enrollee of a plan provided by his religious employer to purchase, at his own expense, a
supplemental insurance policy that covers standard fertility preservation services.
New law defines "health coverage plan", "iatrogenic infertility", "medical treatment that may
directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility", "religious employer", and "standard fertility
preservation services".
New law may be known and cited as "The Medically Necessary Fertility Preservation Act".
New law applies to a policy, contract, or plan issued on and after Jan. 1, 2024, and requires
a current policy, contract, or plan to convert to the provisions of new law by Jan. 1, 2025.
New law does not apply to plans offered through the federally-facilitated Health Insurance
Marketplace until an appropriation is provided by the legislature.
Effective January 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 22:1036.1)