Health Insurance - Screening for Ovarian Cancer - Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost Sharing
SB 518 requires certain Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover preventive ovarian cancer screenings for individuals who are at least 45 years old. The required coverage includes screenings such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans when used for preventive screening purposes.
The bill also prohibits insurers and similar entities from charging copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these preventive ovarian cancer screenings, with one exception: plans that qualify as high-deductible health plans under federal law may still apply the deductible. The bill applies to policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect the same day.
If enacted, SB 518 would add a new section to Maryland Insurance Article § 15-861, expanding mandated health insurance benefits for ovarian cancer screening. It would require covered insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs to include preventive ovarian cancer screening coverage for eligible adults and limit cost-sharing for those services, thereby affecting plan design, benefit administration, and out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals. The bill would primarily affect health insurers, HMOs, nonprofit health plans, and policyholders age 45 and older, while preserving the deductible structure for high-deductible health plans under federal tax law.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available record suggests a straightforward public-health-oriented proposal with no documented opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s framing indicates support for earlier detection and reduced financial barriers to screening, which typically aligns with preventive care policy goals. Because no committee discussion or voting history is included, there is no evidence here of formal support or resistance beyond the bill’s stated purpose.
The main policy issue apparent from the text is cost-sharing: the bill generally bans copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for preventive ovarian cancer screenings, but preserves deductibles for high-deductible health plans. That exception may be the most likely point of contention because it balances expanded access against existing federal tax-advantaged plan rules and insurer cost concerns. Another possible issue is the age threshold of 45 and the inclusion of MRI and CT scans as screening modalities, which may raise questions about medical necessity, utilization, and premium impact, though no specific objections are documented in the provided record.