June 17, 2025
In May and June 2025, Gov. Polis signed the following healthcare bills into law:
- HB25-1309 Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care: Under current law, health benefit insurance plans (health benefit plans) include coverage for "gender-affirming health care" as part of individual and group health benefit plans. The bill codifies gender-affirming healthcare treatments in the statute and prohibits a health benefit plan from denying or limiting medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare as determined and prescribed by a physical or behavioral healthcare provider (healthcare provider). In addition, the bill exempts prescriptions for testosterone from the tracking requirements of the prescription drug use monitoring program and blocks archived records from view. The bill includes a safety clause, which in Colorado prevents a referendum on it. A bill with a safety clause is also effective upon the governor’s signature, which for HB25-1309 occurred on May 23, 2025.
- SB25-296 Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Examinations: This bill makes changes to preventive care coverage by health insurers for breast cancer screening. It clarifies that diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations, in addition to regular breast cancer screening, do not require cost-sharing by the patient. The bill takes effect 91 days after the Colorado General Assembly adjourns unless a referendum petition under state law occurs.
- SB25-118 Health Insurance Prenatal Care No Cost-Sharing: The bill requires that health insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, that provide maternity care include coverage for up to three prenatal care office visits without cost-sharing. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, unless a referendum petition under state law occurs.
- SB25-048 Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act: Beginning January 1, 2027, all large group health plans issued or renewed in the state must provide coverage for the treatment of the chronic disease of obesity and the treatment of prediabetes (including coverage for the national diabetes prevention program, medical nutrition therapy, intensive behavioral or lifestyle therapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery). Importantly, the bill also requires carriers offering large group health benefit plans in the state to give the policyholder the option to purchase coverage for FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, including at least one FDA-approved GLP-1 medication. However, it does not require a carrier to offer coverage for which premiums would not cover expected benefits.
Employers with plans governed by state laws should be aware of these mandates and can contact their carrier for further details.
HB25-1309 Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care
SB25-296 Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Examinations