This bill mandates that health insurance carriers, including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial group health insurers, provide coverage for annual prostate cancer screenings without any cost-sharing requirements. The current law only requires coverage for specific diagnostic examinations for men aged 50 and over or those aged 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer. The bill expands the definition of prostate cancer screening to include a broader range of medically viable detection methods, such as digital rectal exams, prostate-specific antigen tests, and associated laboratory work, as well as follow-up testing directed by healthcare providers.

Additionally, the bill extends these prostate cancer screening requirements to individual health insurance policies, health benefits plans under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and contracts under the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees Health Benefits Program, which were not previously mandated to provide such coverage. The legislation aims to ensure that all men have access to necessary screenings without financial barriers, thereby promoting early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The act will take effect 90 days after enactment and will apply to all relevant contracts and policies issued or renewed thereafter.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48E-35.13, 17:48-6, 17:48A-7, 17B:27-46.1, 26:2J-4.13