---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300gg–51"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300gg–51"
heading: "Standards relating to benefits for mothers and newborns"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300gg-51"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXV — Requirements Relating to Health Insurance Coverage"
  - "Part B — Individual Market Rules"
  - "Subpart 2 — other requirements"
---

# §300gg–51. Standards relating to benefits for mothers and newborns

- (a) **In general—** The provisions of [section 2704](/usc/42/2704.md)[^1] (other than subsections (d) and (f)) shall apply to [health insurance coverage](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-1) offered by a [health insurance issuer](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-2) in the [individual market](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=e-1-A) in the same manner as it applies to [health insurance coverage](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-1) offered by a [health insurance issuer](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-2) in connection with a [group health plan](/usc/42/300bb–8.md?p=1) in the small or [large group market](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=e-3).
- (b) **Notice requirement—** A [health insurance issuer](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-2) under this part shall comply with the notice requirement under [section 1185(d) of title 29](/usc/29/1185.md?p=d) with respect to the requirements referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) as if such section applied to such issuer and such issuer were a [group health plan](/usc/42/300bb–8.md?p=1).
- (c) **Preemption; exception for health insurance coverage in certain States—**
  - (1) **In general—** The requirements of this section shall not apply with respect to [health insurance coverage](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-1) if there is a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law (as defined in [section 300gg–23(d)(1)](/usc/42/300gg–23.md?p=d-1)[^1] of this title) for a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that regulates such coverage that is described in any of the following subparagraphs:
    - (A) Such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law requires such coverage to provide for at least a 48-hour [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) length of stay following a normal vaginal delivery and at least a 96-hour [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) length of stay following a cesarean section.
    - (B) Such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law requires such coverage to provide for maternity and pediatric care in accordance with guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or other established professional medical associations.
    - (C) Such [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law requires, in connection with such coverage for maternity care, that the [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) length of stay for such care is left to the decision of (or required to be made by) the attending [provider](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) in consultation with the mother.
  - (2) **Construction—** [Section 300gg–62(a) of this title](/usc/42/300gg–62.md?p=a) shall not be construed as superseding a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) law described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVII, § 2751, as added Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, § 605(a)(4), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2941.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 2704, referred to in subsec. (a), is a reference to section 2704 of act July 1, 1944. Section 2704, which was classified to section 300gg–4 of this title, was renumbered section 2725, and amended by Pub. L. 111–148, title I, §§ 1001(2), 1563(c)(3), formerly § 1562(c)(3), title X, § 10107(b)(1), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 130, 265, 911, and was transferred to section 300gg–25 of this title. A new section 2704 of act July 1, 1944, related to prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions or other discrimination based on health status, was added, effective for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014, with certain exceptions, and amended, by Pub. L. 111–148, title I, §§ 1201(2), 1563(c)(1), formerly § 1562(c)(1), title X, § 10107(b)(1), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 154, 264, 911, and is classified to section 300gg–3 of this title.

Section 300gg–23(d)(1) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was in the original “section 2723(d)(1)”, and was translated as meaning section 2724(d)(1) of act July 1, 1944, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 2723 as 2724 by Pub. L. 111–148, title I, §§ 1001(4), 1563(c)(14)(B), formerly § 1562(c)(14)(B), title X, § 10107(b)(1), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 130, 269, 911.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual market on or after Jan. 1, 1998, see section 605(c) of Pub. L. 104–204, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note under section 300gg–44 of this title.