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HB 3248

Requiring West Virginia Medicaid managed care organizations to contract with any otherwise qualified provider

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Pushkin

Requires insurance to cover medically necessary laser hair removal for specified conditions, with coverage expanding to private and public plans after 2027.

To House Health and Human Resources
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Bill Summary · HB 3248

HB 3248 — INS CD — Laser Hair Removal (Public Act 104-0289)

Status: Enacted as Public Act 104-0289 (2025). Primary sponsor: Rep. Lilian Jiménez. Senate sponsor: Sen. Graciela Guzmán. Cosponsor: Rep. Hoan Huynh.

Purpose / Intent

Require health insurance coverage for laser hair removal when the procedure is prescribed as medically necessary according to generally accepted standards of medical care. The intent is to expand coverage for patients whose clinical conditions make laser hair removal an indicated treatment.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new provision to the Illinois Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/356z.80 new) requiring that any group or individual accident or health insurance policy, or managed care plan, that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2027 must cover laser hair removal when:
    • the procedure is prescribed medical treatment, and
    • the prescription/medical necessity is consistent with generally accepted standards of medical care.
  • Lists example conditions for which coverage should apply, including (but not limited to) body dysmorphic disorder, hidradenitis suppurativa, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and similar skin or dermatologic conditions.
  • Amends multiple Illinois laws to extend the coverage requirement to:
    • State Employees Group Insurance Act (state employee plans),
    • Counties Code (self-insured counties),
    • Illinois Municipal Code (self-insured municipalities),
    • School Code (school district plans),
    • Health Maintenance Organization Act,
    • Limited Health Service Organization Act,
    • Voluntary Health Services Plans Act,
    • Illinois Public Aid (Medicaid) and related statutes as appropriate.
  • Rulemaking: any implementing rules must follow the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) procedures.

Who is affected

  • Insurers and managed care plans issuing or renewing policies after 1/1/2027.
  • Self-insured public employers and plans (state, counties, municipalities, school districts) to the extent those statutory sections apply.
  • Patients with qualifying medical/dermatologic conditions who may receive laser hair removal as prescribed treatment.
  • State agencies (Department of Insurance; Department of Central Management Services for some state-employee plan requirements) for enforcement and oversight.

Timeline & Effective Dates

  • Enacted and signed into law as Public Act 104-0289 in 2025.
  • Statutory effective date: January 1, 2026 (Public Act effective date).
  • Coverage mandate for private group/individual policies and managed care plans applies to policies amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2027.

Potential impacts

  • Expanded access to laser hair removal for medically indicated conditions.
  • Administrative and cost impacts for insurers, self-insured employers, and public programs required to add or clarify covered benefits; potential premium or utilization effects.
  • Coverage scope will depend on clinical determinations of medical necessity under “generally accepted standards of medical care.”

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

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