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    AB-224
    Health & Public Health

    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands California health insurance coverage to include fertility treatments and medical equipment starting 2027.
    • Requires health plans to cover fertility services including artificial insemination and surrogacy services.
    • Mandates coverage for mobility devices, communication aids, and other durable medical equipment.
    • Adds coverage for annual hearing exams and hearing aids every three years.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bonta's proposal to update California's essential health benefits benchmark plan would expand healthcare coverage requirements starting in 2027, pending federal approval. The legislation modifies both the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code to mandate coverage for specific fertility treatments, durable medical equipment, and hearing services.

    The bill requires health plans to cover a defined set of fertility services, including artificial insemination, three attempts each at gamete retrieval and embryo creation, cryopreservation with specified storage periods, and surrogacy-related care. For durable medical equipment, plans must cover mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers, communication devices, CPAP machines, portable oxygen, and hospital beds. The legislation also mandates coverage for annual hearing exams and hearing aids every three years.

    These expanded benefits would take effect only if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approves California's new benchmark plan submission in 2025. The Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance would oversee implementation through emergency regulations, with violations by health plans constituting criminal offenses. The requirements apply to individual and small group health plans but exempt specialized plans, Medicare supplements, and grandfathered policies.

    The measure establishes a state-mandated local program for enforcement but specifies that no state reimbursement is required, as the changes relate to criminal provisions under existing constitutional guidelines. Health plans retain limited flexibility to substitute prescription drug formularies if federal requirements are met and no additional state costs result.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 224 Bonta Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 13 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 3
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mia BontaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    SB-62
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    January 2025
    Engrossed
    View Bill
    AB-2914
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    SB-1290
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 3 of 3 items
    Page 1 of 1

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Mia Bonta
    Mia BontaD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    May 29, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6011879PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands California health insurance coverage to include fertility treatments and medical equipment starting 2027.
    • Requires health plans to cover fertility services including artificial insemination and surrogacy services.
    • Mandates coverage for mobility devices, communication aids, and other durable medical equipment.
    • Adds coverage for annual hearing exams and hearing aids every three years.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Mia Bonta
    Mia BontaD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bonta's proposal to update California's essential health benefits benchmark plan would expand healthcare coverage requirements starting in 2027, pending federal approval. The legislation modifies both the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code to mandate coverage for specific fertility treatments, durable medical equipment, and hearing services.

    The bill requires health plans to cover a defined set of fertility services, including artificial insemination, three attempts each at gamete retrieval and embryo creation, cryopreservation with specified storage periods, and surrogacy-related care. For durable medical equipment, plans must cover mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers, communication devices, CPAP machines, portable oxygen, and hospital beds. The legislation also mandates coverage for annual hearing exams and hearing aids every three years.

    These expanded benefits would take effect only if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approves California's new benchmark plan submission in 2025. The Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance would oversee implementation through emergency regulations, with violations by health plans constituting criminal offenses. The requirements apply to individual and small group health plans but exempt specialized plans, Medicare supplements, and grandfathered policies.

    The measure establishes a state-mandated local program for enforcement but specifies that no state reimbursement is required, as the changes relate to criminal provisions under existing constitutional guidelines. Health plans retain limited flexibility to substitute prescription drug formularies if federal requirements are met and no additional state costs result.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 224 Bonta Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    May 29, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6011879PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 13 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 3
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mia BontaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    SB-62
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    January 2025
    Engrossed
    View Bill
    AB-2914
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    SB-1290
    Health care coverage: essential health benefits.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 3 of 3 items
    Page 1 of 1