HB 974 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Health Insurance - Preventive Services - High Deductible Health Plans and Enforcement Authority

HB 974 requires Maryland health insurers to cover specific preventive services - like evidence-based screenings rated A/B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, recommended immunizations, and women’s preventive care - without requiring copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for policyholders. It directly affects health insurers and their customers by mandating coverage for these services under state law. The bill shifts enforcement authority to the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, who must ensure compliance with federal rules and guidance in effect as of December 31, 2024. The law takes effect on June 1, 2025, aligning state coverage requirements with federal standards for preventive care.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Health Insurance - Preventive Services - Enforcement Authority Enrolled - Health Insurance - Preventive Services - High Deductible Health Plans and Enforcement Authority · 3 edits · May 20, 2025
MINOR
The bill was enrolled and finalized, adding 'High Deductible Health Plans' to its title and purpose. The most significant change is the introduction of a new exception that allows carriers to apply high-deductible plan requirements to preventive services, unless the Commissioner determines those services fall under federal safe harbor provisions. This creates a potential loophole where individuals in high-deductible plans might face cost-sharing for preventive care that was previously exempt.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include high deductible health plans, creating a new category of plans subject to different rules regarding preventive service cost-sharing.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a new subsection allowing carriers to apply high-deductible health plan deductibles to preventive services, unless the Maryland Insurance Commissioner determines the service qualifies for federal safe harbor protections.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated the Commissioner's enforcement authority to explicitly account for the new high-deductible health plan exception.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill status from 'Third' reading to 'Enrolled' and updated the title to reflect the inclusion of high deductible health plans.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

365
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 46
Mar 19, 2025
D Democratic33
29 Yea 4
87% Yea
R Republican13
7 Yea 5 Nay 1
53% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 745
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Enrolled
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
House Concurs Senate Amendments
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Mar 24, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (98-37-4)
house of delegates
Mar 19, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (36-5-5)
senate
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
First Reading Health and Government Operations
lower
21 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors