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6/16/2021 House passes bill prohibiting insurers from charging copays for COVID services and vaccines
STATE HOUSE – The House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. David Morales to prevent health insurers from instituting cost-sharing for COVID services for as long as the state of emergency remains in effect. The bill also prohibits insurers from requiring copayments, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket deductible for COVID-19 testing or the vaccine even after the state of emergency.

“As a state, protecting the health and safety of all Rhode Islanders, especially working people, should be our top priority. There should not be any financial barriers standing in the way of someone who thinks that they have COVID-19 from accessing testing or treatment,” said Representative Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence). “While we are fortunate to be one of the leading states in terms of vaccination rates, this pandemic is not over by any means, and we put our progress at risk if we relax the measures that have encouraged people to get tested, treated and vaccinated. We are still in an emergency and we need all insurers to stay on board and continue to be committed partners in our effort to overcome this pandemic and minimize the impact it is having on our communities.”

The bill (2021-H 6208A), which has over 20 co-sponsors in the House, stemmed from an announcement this spring that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island planned to allow its cost-sharing waiver to expire on March 31. The insurer later rescinded the plan.

Representative Morales filed the legislation to make sure that no such cost-sharing is instituted by any insurer, so Rhode Islanders are protected for the duration of the emergency. The bill prohibits insurers from requiring copayments, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket deductible for COVID-19 testing, vaccines, or COVID-19-related emergency services, inpatient services, office visits or hospital stays for the duration of the state of emergency. The prohibition on cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and vaccines would remain in perpetuity.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, which on June 1 passed companion legislation  (2021-S 0877A) sponsored by Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown).


For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923