Healthcare (Insurance)

HB 1123 updates Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost-sharing. This affects insured residents in Pennsylvania who need preventive screenings, ensuring they face no copays or deductibles for this specific health service. The key provision mandates insurers to include coverage for colon cancer screenings as a standard benefit under casualty insurance policies. The bill passed final passage on October 29, 2025, and is now pending implementation under the Banking & Insurance committee. This change directly removes financial barriers for early detection of colorectal cancer through existing insurance coverage.

HB 397 (Pennsylvania) allows volunteer fire companies to directly bill insurers for emergency medical services provided by certified EMT firefighters during dispatched emergencies. It affects volunteer fire companies and insurers covering emergency medical services under health insurance policies. The bill enables fire companies to submit separate claims for services rendered at emergency scenes, prohibits insurers from requiring contracts for payment, and imposes fines for false claims ($100 for first offense, $1,000 for repeat). This amendment to the 1921 Insurance Company Law clarifies billing procedures for EMT firefighters without changing existing insurance coverage requirements.

SB 53 requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover children up to age 26, extending the previous limit of 19. It prohibits insurers from denying or restricting coverage based on factors like marital status, education, employment, or residency. The law applies to standard health insurance policies (excluding dental, disability, hospital indemnity, and similar plans) and mandates continued coverage for adult children meeting specific criteria, such as not being married or having dependents. This directly affects policyholders and their children aged 19-26 who would otherwise lose coverage.