Medicaid: Menstrual Product Coverage
Fast Facts
Not having access to affordable menstrual products (e.g., tampons or pads) may affect individuals' school attendance, employment, and mental and physical health. Our Q&A report examines states' coverage of menstrual products in their Medicaid programs.
Coverage of these products is not a Medicaid benefit. But some Medicaid managed care plans may voluntarily cover some costs for eligible enrollees. We identified 25 states with at least one plan that covered menstrual products or a range of over-the-counter personal care items—including menstrual products—up to a set quantity or dollar amount.
Highlights
What GAO Found
Coverage of menstrual products is not a Medicaid benefit. However, Medicaid managed care plans may voluntarily cover some costs of menstrual products for eligible enrollees.
GAO found that 25 states had at least one Medicaid managed care plan that covered a quantity or dollar amount of menstrual products specifically, or covered a range of over-the-counter or personal care items, including menstrual products. This coverage was not offered by all the plans in each of these states. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials reported that state Medicaid programs have other options to provide coverage of menstrual products, including seeking federal approval to cover the costs of menstrual products as part of a demonstration project, though no state has done so.
Why GAO Did This Study
GAO was asked to examine states' coverage of menstrual products in their Medicaid programs. This report describes circumstances under which state Medicaid programs may cover menstrual products, as well as Medicaid managed care plans' coverage of these products across states.
To conduct this work, GAO reviewed relevant statutes, regulations, and CMS guidance; obtained information from CMS officials; interviewed representatives of two companies that operate Medicaid managed care plans; and reviewed information available on the websites of state Medicaid programs and Medicaid managed care plans.
For more information, contact Catina Latham at: (202) 512-7114 or LathamC@gao.gov.