Health plans required to cover the management and treatment of obesity.

HF 690 requires all health plans in Minnesota to cover the management and treatment of obesity as a chronic disease, directly affecting individuals with obesity and their insurance providers. The bill mandates coverage for three specific treatments: intensive behavioral/lifestyle programs, metabolic and bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved obesity medications. It prohibits health plans from imposing stricter coverage rules for obesity than for other medical conditions, ensuring equal deductibles, copays, and benefit limits. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for private health plans and January 1, 2026, for medical assistance programs like Medicaid.