ASSEMBLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5508

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 6, 2019

      The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5508.

      This bill amends P.L.2005, c.251, the statute requiring health insurance carriers and the State health benefits programs to cover prescription female contraceptives, by prohibiting insurers from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on this coverage. 

      Currently, federal law requires coverage for female contraceptives to be provided without cost sharing in certain circumstances. This bill would expand State law to also require coverage for female contraceptives to be provided without cost sharing.  The bill also expands coverage for female contraceptives to include all contraceptives approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for that purpose that can be purchased in this State with a prescription written by a health care professional.

      The bill also removes the exemption in current law for religious employers to provide coverage for female contraceptives if the required coverage conflicts with the religious employer's bona fide religious beliefs and practices.