State Health Coverage Rules

State laws that tell insurers what health coverage they have to offer are called state mandates. Some common examples include coverage for mammograms, alcohol and substance abuse, infant care, home health care, and infertility treatment. No two states impose the same set of mandates. You should be aware that many of the small employer reforms enacted by the states exempt insurers from the mandates in return for offering low-cost insurance to small employers.

Click on your state on the map below to find out which coverages your state requires. The list you will see contains those coverages that must be included in a standard health policy. For example, if your state says "Mental health, dependent coverage," then health policies issued in your state (except those that are self-insured) must provide coverage for mental health benefits and for dependents.