Law Passes Requiring Coverage for Obesity & Morbid Obesity

July 17, 2008

New Hampshire health insurers will be required to cover bariatric surgery as an option in treating morbid obesity.

Senate Bill 312 passed into law July 16, 2008. This law mandates that health insurers that issue or renew an individual or group health insurance policy providing benefits for medical and hospital expenses, will provide policy holders who have attained the age of 18 years and are residents of the state of NH, coverage for the diseases caused by obesity or morbid obesity and treatments for such, including bariatric surgery. This treatment must be medically necessary and meet standards set forth by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery or the American College of Surgeons. This law takes effect sixty days from July 16th, 2008.

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