This bill amends New Jersey law to enhance health insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings by requiring all health service corporation contracts, hospital service corporation contracts, medical service corporation contracts, group health insurance policies, and individual health insurance policies to provide annual prostate cancer screenings without any cost-sharing requirements, such as deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. The screenings must align with the latest nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines, which are defined as evidence-based standards developed by independent organizations. The bill aims to improve access to these essential health services, particularly for men at higher risk of prostate cancer.

Furthermore, the bill extends these coverage requirements to small employer health benefits plans and contracts purchased by the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employees Health Benefits Commission. It clarifies that high-deductible health plans and catastrophic plans must also comply with these provisions to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, ensuring that individuals are not disqualified from tax deductions related to medical savings accounts or health savings accounts. This legislation broadens the current law, which only mandates coverage for certain diagnostic examinations, to include comprehensive annual screenings for all eligible individuals, taking effect 90 days after enactment for 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