California SB 257 – The PARENT Act: A Critical Step Toward Insurance Equity for Intended Parents
California is on the verge of a monumental advancement in reproductive rights with SB 257 – the PARENT Act, a bill that aims to modernize insurance law and end discriminatory practices against families formed through surrogacy.
What is the PARENT Act?
The PARENT Act stands for Pregnancy As a Recognized Event for Nondiscriminatory Treatment. This vital piece of legislation is designed to ensure that families formed through gestational surrogacy are treated equally under California health insurance laws. Specifically, the bill would:
- Recognize pregnancy via surrogacy as a qualifying life event, giving parents the right to enroll in or change their health insurance coverage when either they or their surrogate becomes pregnant.
- Prohibit insurance discrimination based on surrogacy, protecting intended parents from a lien on a surrogate’s compensation, exclusions, limitations, or denial of benefits solely because their child is being carried by a surrogate.
- Ensure that all families, regardless of how they are formed, receive fair and equal treatment from insurance providers — affirming the legal and emotional reality of modern parenthood.
➡️ Read the full text of the bill: California SB 257 – LegiScan
➡️ Read the CHBRP Analysis: SB 257 PARENT Act – CHBRP Final Report (April 2024)
Favorable Findings from the CHBRP Analysis
The California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) conducted an independent assessment of SB 257 and found multiple supportive justifications for the bill’s passage. Key highlights include:
“SB 257 would eliminate a potential barrier to health insurance enrollment for an estimated 6,200 to 8,100 intended parents annually.” (p. 1)
“CHBRP estimates that SB 257 would result in a minor increase in premium costs and negligible financial impact to the healthcare system, while expanding access to coverage for newborns and intended parents.” (p. 10)
“By ensuring access to coverage for newborns, SB 257 may reduce disparities in care for infants born via surrogacy.” (p. 15)
“The bill supports reproductive equity by providing insurance access parity for intended parents, who are increasingly diverse in family structure, race, and sexual orientation.” (p. 14)
These statements reinforce what our community already knows: SB 257 is good policy — fiscally sound, socially just, and medically necessary.
Why Our Industry Needs This Legislation
Without SB 257:
- Intended parents cannot trigger a special enrollment period for insurance when their surrogate becomes pregnant, despite being legally responsible for the child
- Health plans may refuse to cover the newborn or parental leave, creating hardship during an already expensive and emotional process.
- Insurance companies can discriminate against families formed through ART, causing systemic inequality in access to care.
This bill ensures equity, dignity, and protection for all families, no matter how they are formed.
A 39–0 Senate Victory: Now Onward to the Assembly
SB 257 passed the California Senate with a unanimous 39–0 vote — a rare and powerful moment of bipartisan unity in support of family-building rights.
We offer sincere thanks to Senator Aisha Wahab, who has led this effort with vision, courage, and compassion for intended parents across the state.
Next stop: the Assembly Health Committee — and that’s where we need your help.
How You Can Help
- Take Local Action:
If you live in California, we’ll help you connect with your Assemblymember. Just tell us your city or ZIP code, and we’ll provide personalized outreach support.
- Support the Mission:
The Insurance Access and Equity Alliance (IAE Alliance) is funding advocacy and education around SB 257. Your support helps us fight for justice.
👉 Donate now at www.iaealliance.org
Spread the Word
Share this story, tag your legislators, and tell your story. Voices like yours fuel progress.
Final Thoughts
The Pregnancy As a Recognized Event for Nondiscriminatory Treatment (PARENT) Act isn’t just a technical change to health insurance rules — it’s a powerful declaration that all families matter.
Let’s eliminate discrimination in surrogacy-based insurance. Let’s ensure that every parent, regardless of biology or path, is protected.
With gratitude to Senator Aisha Wahab and every advocate standing with us!