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A4438
ASSEMBLY, No. 4438
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires health insurance coverage of prenatal
genetic test during first trimester of pregnancy.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning health insurance coverage of prenatal
genetic testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� A hospital service
corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is
delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1938,
c.366 (C.17:48-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by
the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of
this act, shall provide benefits to any named subscriber or other person
covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test
during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which
benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a carrier
screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
contract.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all hospital service corporation contracts in which the
hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.�
���� 2.��� a.� Every medical
service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits
and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to
P.L.1940, c.74 (C.17:48A-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in
this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the
effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any named subscriber or
other person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal
genetic test during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing
for which benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a
carrier screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus
sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
contract.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all medical service corporation contracts in which the
medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.�
���� 3.��� a.� Every health service
corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is
delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1985,
c.236 (C.17:48E-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State
by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of
this act, shall provide benefits to any named subscriber or other person
covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test
during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which
benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a carrier
screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
contract.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all health service corporation contracts in which the health
service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 4.��� a.� Every individual
policy that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered,
issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to N.J.S. 17B:26-1 et seq., or
approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking
and Insurance on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide
benefits to any named insured or other person covered thereunder for expenses
incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test during the first trimester of a
pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which benefits shall be provided shall
include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a nuchal translucency
screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the policy.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all health insurance policies in which the insurer has
reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 5.��� a.� Every group policy
that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued,
executed or renewed in this State pursuant to N.J.S.17B:27-26 et seq., or
approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking
and Insurance on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits
to any named insured or other person covered thereunder for expenses incurred
in conducting a prenatal genetic test during the first trimester of a
pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which benefits shall be provided shall
include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a nuchal translucency
screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
policy.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all health insurance policies in which the insurer has
reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 6.��� a.� Every enrollee
agreement that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered,
issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337
(C.26:2J-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this
State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective
date of this act, shall provide health care services to any enrollee or other
person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal
genetic test during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing
for which benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a
carrier screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus
sampling.
���� b.��� The health care services
shall be provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under
the enrollee agreement.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all enrollee agreements in which the health maintenance
organization has reserved the right to change the schedule of charges.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 7.��� a.� Every individual
health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is
delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992,
c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on
or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any person
covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test
during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which
benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a carrier
screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the health
benefits plan.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all health benefit plans in which the carrier has
reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 8.��� a.� Every small employer
health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is
delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992,
c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State
on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any
person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal
genetic test during the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing
for which benefits shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a
carrier screening, a nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus
sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the health
benefits plan.
���� c.���� The provisions of this
section shall apply to all health benefit plans in which the carrier has
reserved the right to change the premium.
���� d.��� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 9.��� a.� The State Health
Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the
commission on or after the effective date of this act, that provides hospital
or medical expense benefits shall provide benefits to any person covered
thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test during
the first trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which benefits
shall be provided shall include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a
nuchal translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
contract.
���� c.���� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 10.� a.� The School Employees�
Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the
commission on or after the effective date of this act that provides hospital or
medical expense benefits shall provide benefits to any person covered thereunder
for expenses incurred in conducting a prenatal genetic test during the first
trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which benefits shall be
provided shall include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a nuchal
translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.
���� b.��� The benefits shall be
provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the
contract.
���� c.���� For the purpose of this
section, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed from
inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual carries a
gene for certain inherited disorders.
���� 11.� This act shall take
effect on the 90th day next following enactment and shall apply to policies and
contracts that are delivered, issued, executed, or renewed on or after that
date.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires health
insurance coverage of a prenatal genetic test during the first trimester of
pregnancy.
���� Under the bill, health
insurance carriers (including insurance companies, hospital service
corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, health
maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New
Jersey, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection
with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees� Health Benefits
Program) will be required to cover a prenatal genetic test during the first
trimester of a pregnancy.� The methods of testing for which benefits will be
provided will include, but not be limited to, a carrier screening, a nuchal
translucency screening, and a chorionic villus sampling.� For the purpose of
this bill, �carrier screening� means a blood sample or tissue sample swabbed
from inside the cheek of an individual to determine whether the individual
carries a gene for certain inherited disorders.