STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9230
IN SENATE
February 18, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for perimeno-
pausal and menopausal care and treatment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph 40 to read as follows:
3 (40) (A) Every policy that provides coverage for hospital, surgical or
4 medical care shall provide coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal
5 care and treatment administered by a physician or other licensed health
6 care provider. Symptoms of menstrual complications for perimenopausal
7 and menopausal care authorized under this paragraph include, but are not
8 limited to: irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, chills, slowed
9 metabolism, vaginal or bladder problems, decrease in fertility, loss of
10 bone, increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and sleep
11 disruption including night sweats.
12 (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph:
13 (i) "Menopause" means the permanent cessation of menstruation due to
14 loss of ovarian follicular function, where ovaries stop releasing eggs
15 and the body produces less estrogen and progesterone.
16 (ii) "Perimenopause" means the transition period in which a woman is
17 near the end of her reproductive years or at the onset of menopause.
18 (C) Such coverage required pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this para-
19 graph may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may be
20 deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with
21 those established for other benefits within a given policy.
22 § 2. Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
23 adding a new paragraph 24 to read as follows:
24 (24)(A) Every policy that provides coverage for hospital, surgical or
25 medical care shall provide coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal
26 care or treatment administered by a physician or other licensed health
27 care provider. Symptoms of menstrual complications for perimenopausal
28 and menopausal care authorized under this paragraph include, but are not
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01048-01-5
S. 9230 2
1 limited to: irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, chills, slowed
2 metabolism, vaginal or bladder problems, decrease in fertility, loss of
3 bone, increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and sleep
4 disruption including night sweats.
5 (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph:
6 (i) "Menopause" means the permanent cessation of menstruation due to
7 loss of ovarian follicular function, where ovaries stop releasing eggs
8 and the body produces less estrogen and progesterone.
9 (ii) "Perimenopause" means the transition period in which a woman is
10 near the end of her reproductive years or at the onset of menopause.
11 (C) Such coverage required pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this para-
12 graph may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may be
13 deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with
14 those established for other benefits within a given policy.
15 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
16 subsection (ww) to read as follows:
17 (ww)(1) Any contract issued by a medical expense indemnity corpo-
18 ration, a hospital service corporation or a health services corporation
19 that provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care shall
20 provide coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal care or treatment
21 administered by a physician or other licensed health care provider.
22 Symptoms of menstrual complications for perimenopausal and menopausal
23 care authorized under this paragraph include, but are not limited to:
24 irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, chills, slowed metabolism,
25 vaginal or bladder problems, decrease in fertility, loss of bone,
26 increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and sleep
27 disruption including night sweats.
28 (2) For purposes of paragraph one of this subsection:
29 (A) "Menopause" means the permanent cessation of menstruation due to
30 loss of ovarian follicular function, where ovaries stop releasing eggs
31 and the body produces less estrogen and progesterone.
32 (B) "Perimenopause" means the transition period in which a woman is
33 near the end of her reproductive years or at the onset of menopause.
34 (3) Such coverage required pursuant to paragraph one of this
35 subsection may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may
36 be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with
37 those established for other benefits within a given contract.
38 § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
39 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to
40 policies issued, reissued, renewed, modified or amended on or after such
41 date.
