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HB 1366

Health Insurance - Testing for Ovarian and Cervical Cancers - Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost Sharing

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Addison and 10 co-sponsors

Maryland bill requiring health insurers to cover ovarian and cervical cancer screenings without patient cost-sharing was withdrawn before consideration.

Withdrawn by Sponsor
0
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Bill Summary · HB 1366

Legislative bill overview

HB 1366 would have required Maryland health insurance plans to cover screening tests for ovarian and cervical cancers without cost-sharing (copays, coinsurance, or deductibles). The bill aimed to ensure that preventive cancer screenings remained financially accessible to all insured individuals regardless of their insurance type.

Why is this important

Cancer screenings are time-sensitive preventive care that can detect diseases at earlier, more treatable stages. Removing financial barriers to these specific tests could increase screening rates, particularly among lower-income populations who might delay or skip care due to out-of-pocket costs. However, the bill was withdrawn before passage, so these protections were not enacted.

Potential points of contention

  • Insurance cost implications: Insurers may argue that mandating zero-cost screening increases premiums for all policyholders, potentially offsetting savings for those who use the services
  • Scope questions: Why limit the mandate to these two cancers rather than other preventable cancers or health conditions, and what determines future additions to such lists
  • Federal law alignment: Preventive services coverage is already partially regulated under federal law (ACA), raising questions about whether state-level mandates create redundancy or strengthen protections

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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