Obesity Prevention Treatment Parity Act.
- Requires health insurers to cover obesity medications and behavioral therapy without prior authorization starting 2026.
- Mandates coverage of at least one FDA-approved GLP-1 medication for weight management.
- Ensures coverage criteria cannot be more restrictive than FDA-approved guidelines for obesity treatments.
- Exempts specialized dental and vision plans and Medicare supplement policies from these requirements.
Assembly Member Arambula's Obesity Prevention Treatment Parity Act requires California health insurers to cover specific obesity treatments without prior authorization starting January 2026. The legislation mandates that health plans include coverage for at least one FDA-approved glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medication and intensive behavioral therapy for obesity treatment.
The bill modifies both the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code to establish these coverage requirements for individual and group health plans that provide outpatient prescription drug benefits. While insurers may still apply standard medical necessity criteria, coverage requirements for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications cannot exceed FDA-approved usage guidelines. The provisions exclude specialized plans covering only dental or vision benefits and Medicare supplement contracts.
Current California regulations limit obesity medication coverage to cases of "morbid obesity." The bill's findings note that obesity affects one in four California adults, with estimated annual costs of $15.2 billion. The findings also document obesity's links to over 200 comorbid conditions, including 13 types of cancer, and its disproportionate impact on communities of color and those below the poverty line, who face 1.5 times higher obesity rates.
 Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD Assemblymember | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Heath FloraR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Mia BontaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Dawn AddisD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
- Requires health insurers to cover obesity medications and behavioral therapy without prior authorization starting 2026.
- Mandates coverage of at least one FDA-approved GLP-1 medication for weight management.
- Ensures coverage criteria cannot be more restrictive than FDA-approved guidelines for obesity treatments.
- Exempts specialized dental and vision plans and Medicare supplement policies from these requirements.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Arambula's Obesity Prevention Treatment Parity Act requires California health insurers to cover specific obesity treatments without prior authorization starting January 2026. The legislation mandates that health plans include coverage for at least one FDA-approved glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medication and intensive behavioral therapy for obesity treatment.
The bill modifies both the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code to establish these coverage requirements for individual and group health plans that provide outpatient prescription drug benefits. While insurers may still apply standard medical necessity criteria, coverage requirements for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications cannot exceed FDA-approved usage guidelines. The provisions exclude specialized plans covering only dental or vision benefits and Medicare supplement contracts.
Current California regulations limit obesity medication coverage to cases of "morbid obesity." The bill's findings note that obesity affects one in four California adults, with estimated annual costs of $15.2 billion. The findings also document obesity's links to over 200 comorbid conditions, including 13 types of cancer, and its disproportionate impact on communities of color and those below the poverty line, who face 1.5 times higher obesity rates.
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Heath FloraR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Mia BontaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Dawn AddisD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |