This bill mandates that health insurance and Medicaid in New Jersey provide coverage for reproductive health care services, including abortion, without any cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles or copayments. It prohibits medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions against healthcare providers based on their provision of legally protected reproductive health services, regardless of the legal status of those services in other states. The legislation emphasizes the importance of access to reproductive health care for all individuals in New Jersey, aiming to eliminate financial barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized groups. Additionally, it reinforces the fundamental right to reproductive choice, declaring that any state laws or regulations that limit this right are invalid.

The bill also requires health insurance carriers, including the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program, to cover pregnancy termination and defines pregnancy as beginning with the implantation of a fertilized egg. It allows religious employers to request an exclusion from this coverage if it conflicts with their bona fide religious beliefs. Furthermore, the bill introduces definitions for "gender-affirming health care services" and "legally protected health care activity," ensuring these services are recognized under state law. It prohibits medical malpractice insurers from penalizing providers for offering reproductive or gender-affirming health care services based solely on the residency of the patient in a state where such services may be illegal. The bill also repeals certain sections of previous legislation and outlines the effective dates for its provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:7-2, 17:30D-22