The Overview

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, health insurers in Rhode Island must cover vaccines recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) without requiring patients to share in the cost. The Rhode Island General Assembly passed House Bill 7625, an act relating to health and safety under the Department of Health, requiring insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the state health department at no cost to patients. ​

Insurer coverage of vaccines relies on federal vaccine guidance, and changes to that guidance can affect how accessible shots are and what they cost. The law ties Rhode Island's coverage standard to the state's own health department recommendations, insulating residents from those federal swings.

What the Law Does

The law requires state-regulated insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the Rhode Island DOH without cost-sharing. That applies whether a patient gets the shot at a doctor's office, a pharmacy, or another in-network provider.

The same requirement applies to the state's Medicaid program and managed care organizations. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. That gives insurers and managed care plans roughly six months to update their coverage terms before the mandate kicks in.

By the Numbers

Rhode Island has 1,101,801 residents in 441,570 households, based on 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates. About 4.4 percent of residents lacked health insurance under those figures, while 13.8 percent reported a disability. The state's median household income stood at $87,796, and 11.2 percent of residents fell below the poverty line. That means roughly one in nine Rhode Islanders lives below the poverty line.

Legislative Status

Rep. Susan Donovan (D-RI) led the bill, joined by Rep. June Speakman (D-RI), Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-RI), Rep. Tina Spears (D-RI), Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-RI), and five other sponsors: Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-RI), Rep. Joshua Giraldo (D-RI), Rep. Jennifer Stewart (D-RI), Rep. Kathleen Fogarty (D-RI), and Rep. Lauren Carson (D-RI).

The lower chamber voted 57 to 14 on June 9 to pass a motion. The Senate passed it in concurrence June 11. The governor signed the bill on June 23.

Donovan described the law as one that "mandates that insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements" for DOH-recommended vaccines.

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