AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Melissa Murray and 4 co-sponsors

Rhode Island health plans must cover buprenorphine with no copay and no deductible for most plans, effective for policies delivered or renewed on/after Jan 1, 2027.

06/09/2026 Senate read and passed

Summary of SB 2034 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to require Rhode Island health insurance plans to cover buprenorphine, an opioid-use disorder treatment, with no copayment and no deductible under most plans.

Coverage is mandated for all types of buprenorphine across each form of administration, effective for policies delivered or renewed in Rhode Island on or after January 1, 2027. Plans may implement the benefit earlier if they choose.

Key provisions and changes

Sections added to multiple Rhode Island insurance chapters to ensure buprenorphine coverage:

27-18-96 (General Laws) – Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies
27-19-88 (Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations)
27-20-84 (Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations)
27-41-101 (Health Maintenance Organizations)

Coverage requirements:

Each individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy with prescription coverage must cover at least one type of buprenorphine for every form of administration.
No copayment is required.
No deductible shall need to be met, on a yearly basis (12-month plan year).
A deductible may be applied if the plan is paired with a health savings account (HSA) under 26 U.S.C. § 223.
Plans may implement the benefit prior to January 1, 2027.

Scope:

Applies to plans delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in Rhode Island.
Affects plans across multiple types of health coverage: standard, nonprofit hospital service, nonprofit medical service, and HMOs.

Who would be affected

Individuals and groups covered by Rhode Island health insurance policies with prescription coverage, including:

Traditional for-profit and nonprofit health insurers
Hospital service corporations
Medical service corporations
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

Those enrolled in plans that pair with HSAs (where deductible rules may differ).

Procedural/timeline details

Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Implementation timeline:

The core requirement for buprenorphine coverage becomes mandatory for policies delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
Insurers are permitted to implement the benefit earlier than January 1, 2027 if they choose.

Practical impact and considerations

Consumer impact:

Potentially reduces the financial barrier to buprenorphine treatment by eliminating copayments and deductibles for most plans, improving access to treatment for opioid use disorder.

Insurer impact:

Requires policy design changes to ensure buprenorphine coverage meets the “no copay, no deductible” standard (with carve-outs for HSAs as allowed).

Public health context:

Aligns with broader efforts to improve access to evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with existing Rhode Island insurance policies or a plain-language FAQ for readers.