Bill > HB56

This bill mandates that various health insurance policies in Delaware provide coverage for medically necessary removal of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue, specifically including panniculectomy (an operative procedure to remove significant excess skin and subcutaneous fat from the abdominal wall). The bill applies to individual health insurance policies, group health insurance policies, state employee health plans, and health benefit plans, requiring them to cover such procedures when determined to be medically necessary. The bill defines "medically necessary" by referencing an existing definition in Delaware law and clarifies that panniculectomy is a specific type of procedure to contour the abdominal wall. The coverage requirement does not apply to limited benefit health insurance policies such as accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, or disability income policies. Insurance providers can still apply standard policy provisions like deductibles, coinsurance, and limitations on provider networks. The bill will take effect for all policies issued, renewed, modified, or reissued after December 31, 2026, giving insurers time to adjust their coverage and policies accordingly.

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https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141886