Bill > SB989

This bill amends Pennsylvania's insurance laws to establish comprehensive requirements for immunization coverage by health insurance providers. The legislation mandates that insurers offering health insurance policies (excluding grandfathered plans) must provide full coverage for immunizations without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for enrollees. The bill defines key terms like "immunization" and "cost-sharing" and establishes a process for the Department of Health to add or remove specific immunizations from coverage based on recommendations from medical professional organizations like the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The bill allows the department to add immunizations that are medically supported and would advance public health, and provides for exceptions when an immunization is no longer medically relevant. Insurers must publish notices of immunization coverage changes and are required to cover out-of-network immunizations if no in-network provider is available. The legislation also includes enforcement mechanisms, with potential penalties for non-compliance such as license suspension, fines up to $5,000 per violation (or $10,000 for willful violations), with a total annual aggregate fine limit of $500,000. Religious exemptions are preserved, and the act provides additional legal remedies beyond its specific provisions.

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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=989