HB 25-1068

House Bill 25-1068, which has been signed into law, allows medical malpractice insurers in Colorado to refuse coverage or increase premiums for healthcare providers and facilities that offer gender-affirming care to minors under 18 years old. This means insurance companies can penalize doctors, clinics, and hospitals that provide such services by either not insuring them at all or charging higher rates. Additionally, the bill prevents insurers from receiving state funding if their policies cover actions related to providing gender-affirming healthcare to minors. This law affects healthcare providers who offer gender-affirming care and could limit access to these services for young people in Colorado.

Official Summary

Under current law, a medical malpractice insurer (insurer) is prohibited from increasing premiums for, refusing to issue, canceling, terminating, or refusing to renew a medical malpractice insurance policy (prohibited actions). The bill permits an insurer to take prohibited actions against an applicant or named insured, including an individual health-care professional or business, or against a health-care facility, such as a hospital or clinic, that allows the use of facilities, equipment, or supplies for, or provides, prescribes, orders, or performs, gender-affirming health-care services for an individual who is a minor under 18 years of age. The bill also prohibits an insurer from accepting state money for the payment of premiums if the malpractice policy covers actions relating to providing gender-affirming health-care services to minors. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)