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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: FIN DPA 4-1-2-0 | Third Read 27-2-1-0House: HHS DP 12-0-0-0 |
SB 1347: health insurance; fertility preservation; coverage
Sponsor: Senator Werner, LD 4
Caucus & COW
Overview
Effective for contracts, evidence of coverage and policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, requires a health care insurer to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services to an insured who is within reproductive age, who is diagnosed with cancer and whose medically necessary treatment is likely to cause iatrogenic infertility. Provides a process for a religious employer to request an exemption from the coverage requirement.
History
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions regulates the business of insurance and enforces laws governing insurance policies issued in this state. Health insurers must comply with statutory requirements relating to policy forms, coverage provisions and consumer protections (A.R.S. §§ 20-142 and 20-1110).
Health insurance coverage may be offered by disability insurers, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations and health care services organizations. These entities are regulated under separate provisions governing the issuance and administration of health coverage and must comply with applicable laws relating to policy benefits, limitations and exclusions (A.R.S. §§ 20-822, 20-841, 20-1057 and 20-1376).
Provisions
1. Requires, for health care insurers that issue, amend or renew an insurance policy on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services to an insured:
a. who is within reproductive age;
b. who is diagnosed with cancer; and
c. whose medically necessary treatment is likely to directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. (Sec. 1-4)
2. Specifies that coverage for standard fertility preservation services includes at least 3 plan years of storage. (Sec. 1-4)
3. Specifies that, if an insured changes insurance plans during the three-year storage period, the prior health care insurer and the new health care insurer are not responsible for the three plan years of storage. (Sec. 1-4)
4. Requires a health care insurer to process prior authorization requests for standard fertility preservation services as urgent and to respond within 72 hours on request. (Sec. 1-4)
5. Permits a religious employer to submit a written request to the health care insurer for an exemption from the requirement to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services to an insured. (Sec. 1-4)
6. Requires the health insurer to grant a requested exemption if the coverage conflicts with the employer's religious beliefs. (Sec. 1-4)
7. Requires a religious employer that obtains an exemption to provide written notice of the exemption to prospective insureds. (Sec. 1-4)
8. Clarifies that the requirement to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services does not prevent an insured from purchasing a supplemental insurance policy that covers standard fertility preservation services at the insured's own expense. (Sec. 1-4)
9. Defines the following terms:
a. iatrogenic infertility;
b. religious employer;
c. reproductive age; and
d. standard fertility. (Sec. 1-4)
10. Contains an effective date of January 1, 2027. (Sec. 5)
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Initials AG SB 1347
3/13/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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