Health Insurance - Ovarian Cancer Prevention With Salpingectomy - Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost Sharing
Summary
SB 551 requires certain Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover salpingectomy when it is performed for ovarian cancer prevention. A salpingectomy is the surgical removal of the fallopian tubes, and the bill specifically ties coverage to preventive care for ovarian cancer rather than treatment of an existing cancer diagnosis.
The bill also bars insurers from imposing copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles on that coverage, with one exception: if the enrollee is covered by a high-deductible health plan under federal tax law, the coverage may still be subject to that plan’s deductible. The mandate applies to policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2027, and the act takes effect the same day.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to Maryland’s Insurance Article requiring specified carriers and HMOs to include salpingectomy coverage for ovarian cancer prevention in their health benefit offerings. It expands mandated preventive coverage and limits cost-sharing for most enrollees, while preserving deductible treatment for high-deductible health plans consistent with federal law. The practical effect is to shift more of the cost of this preventive procedure from patients to insurers and health plans, and to standardize coverage across affected Maryland-issued plans.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad bipartisan support and little opposition. The Senate passed the bill 45-0, and the House passed it 123-6, indicating strong overall approval of the measure. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, but the favorable committee report and overwhelming floor votes point to a generally positive reception focused on preventive women’s health coverage.
Contention
The main policy issue is cost-sharing: the bill prohibits copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for most plans, which may raise concerns among insurers about added benefit costs and premium impacts. The only explicit carve-out is for high-deductible health plans, reflecting a compromise to align with federal tax rules. Any disagreement appears limited, given the very strong vote margins, and likely centered on insurance mandate costs rather than the medical value of the procedure.