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HB 1031

Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Prescription Weight Loss Drugs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gabriel Acevero and 6 co-sponsors

Maryland health insurers must cover FDA-approved prescription weight loss medications, expanding access but potentially increasing insurance costs and medication supply pressure.

Hearing 2/27 at 2:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1031

Legislative bill overview

HB 1031 would require health insurance plans in Maryland to cover prescription weight loss medications as a covered benefit. The bill mandates that insurers provide coverage for FDA-approved weight loss drugs, potentially including medications like GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) that have gained significant popularity in recent years.

Why is this important

Prescription weight loss drugs can cost $300-$1,000+ monthly without insurance coverage, making them inaccessible to many Marylanders despite medical necessity. This bill addresses healthcare equity by ensuring coverage parity—treating obesity as a medical condition warranting insurance support, similar to coverage for diabetes or hypertension medications. The practical impact depends on whether the mandate includes cost-sharing limits and which specific drugs qualify.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and premium increases: Insurers argue mandatory coverage of expensive weight loss drugs will raise premiums for all policyholders, creating cross-subsidization concerns
  • Medical necessity definition: Disagreement over which patients qualify (BMI thresholds, comorbidities required, prior diet/exercise documentation) and which drugs should be covered
  • Supply and shortage concerns: Widespread insurance coverage could exacerbate existing supply shortages of popular weight loss medications, affecting both prescribed and cosmetic users
  • Prior authorization burden: Questions about whether prior authorization requirements would undermine access or reasonably manage costs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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