Voters should care about this bill because it could significantly reduce the financial burden associated with pregnancy and childbirth, which are often major life events with substantial costs. Currently, even with insurance, families can face thousands of dollars in deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance for maternity care.
If this bill becomes law, it would make these essential services free at the point of care, potentially improving access to critical prenatal and postpartum care and leading to better health outcomes for mothers and babies. It could also help address the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. by encouraging more consistent care. If it doesn't pass, families will continue to face the existing out-of-pocket costs for these services, which can be a barrier to care and a source of financial stress.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Expands the definition of 'maternity and newborn care' under Essential Health Benefits to include comprehensive prenatal, labor and delivery, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care and screenings.
This ensures a broader range of services are explicitly covered by health plans.
PROVISION 02
Requires health plans to cover services without any cost-sharing (deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance) for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, or postpartum health care.
This provision directly eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for families using these services.
PROVISION 03
Specifies that postpartum care is defined as the 1-year period immediately after pregnancy ends and includes non-preventive behavioral health services for new parents, including those who do not physically give birth.
This extends critical care beyond the typical 6-week postpartum period and recognizes the mental health needs of all new parents.
PROVISION 04
Includes specific services such as ultrasounds by licensed providers and care for spontaneous pregnancy loss (miscarriage) within the required coverage.
This ensures that specific, often costly, services essential for maternal and fetal health are explicitly covered.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Voters should care about this bill because it could significantly reduce the financial burden associated with pregnancy and childbirth, which are often major life events with substantial costs. Currently, even with insurance, families can face thousands of dollars in deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance for maternity care.
If this bill becomes law, it would make these essential services free at the point of care, potentially improving access to critical prenatal and postpartum care and leading to better health outcomes for mothers and babies. It could also help address the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the U.S. by encouraging more consistent care. If it doesn't pass, families will continue to face the existing out-of-pocket costs for these services, which can be a barrier to care and a source of financial stress.
KEY PROVISIONS
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high
Expands the definition of 'maternity and newborn care' under Essential Health Benefits to include comprehensive prenatal, labor and delivery, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care and screenings.
This ensures a broader range of services are explicitly covered by health plans.
high
Requires health plans to cover services without any cost-sharing (deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance) for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, or postpartum health care.
This provision directly eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for families using these services.
high
Specifies that postpartum care is defined as the 1-year period immediately after pregnancy ends and includes non-preventive behavioral health services for new parents, including those who do not physically give birth.
This extends critical care beyond the typical 6-week postpartum period and recognizes the mental health needs of all new parents.
med
Includes specific services such as ultrasounds by licensed providers and care for spontaneous pregnancy loss (miscarriage) within the required coverage.
This ensures that specific, often costly, services essential for maternal and fetal health are explicitly covered.
The amendment shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
GLOSSARY
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Cost-sharing
The portion of healthcare costs that individuals pay out of their own pocket, such as deductibles, co-payments, or co-insurance, before their insurance plan pays the rest.
Prenatal care
Medical care provided to a pregnant person and their unborn baby before birth.
Postpartum care
Medical care provided to a mother and baby after childbirth. This bill defines it as the one-year period following the end of pregnancy.
Neonatal care
Medical care provided to a newborn baby, especially during the first month of life.
Perinatal care
Medical care provided during the period around childbirth, typically from the 20th to 28th week of pregnancy until 1 to 4 weeks after birth.
Essential Health Benefits
A set of 10 categories of services that health insurance plans covered under the Affordable Care Act must provide, including maternity and newborn care.
Group Health Plan
A health insurance plan offered by an employer or employee organization to a group of employees and their families.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
JUN 5, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
JUN 5, 25
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
