Healthcare (Insurance)

in committee · Alabama · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 278: Influenza vaccination; to require private health insurance and the Alabama Medicaid program to pay or reimburse for influenza shots

SB 278 requires private health insurance plans and Alabama Medicaid to cover the full cost of influenza vaccinations administered by licensed healthcare providers, including both the vaccine and associated administration fees. This applies to all settings like doctor's offices, pharmacies, community clinics, and school-based clinics, without restricting where the shot can be given. The bill explicitly preserves individuals' and parents' rights to accept or decline the vaccine and does not affect existing school immunization rules. It takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies only to influenza shots, not other vaccines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates full insurance coverage for flu vaccinations, expanding access to preventive care without cost-sharing, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Public Health

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in committee · Alabama · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 453: Breast cancer; to require coverage of breast reconstruction surgery

HB 453 requires all health insurance plans in Alabama - including private coverage, Medicaid, and public employee health plans - to cover breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy or cancer treatment. It ensures patients can choose their preferred surgeon (even outside their insurance network) and defines comprehensive coverage to include all necessary procedures for physical and psychological recovery. The bill sets rules for cost-sharing in private insurance and allows patients or healthcare providers to sue insurers who fail to comply, with enforcement by the Attorney General and Insurance Commissioner. The bill is currently pending in the House Insurance Committee as of February 12, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for breast reconstruction, expanding patient access and rights without restrictions per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Substance Abuse

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signed · Alabama · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 269: Ground ambulance services; to prohibit balance billing and set minimum reimbursement rates by health care insurers to emergency medical service providers

SB 269 regulates how health insurers pay for ground ambulance services in Alabama. It prohibits surprise billing by requiring insurers to pay providers a set minimum rate (200% of Medicare’s ambulance rate for in-network services, 180% for out-of-network) as full payment, meaning patients can only be charged their standard in-network copay or deductible. Ambulance providers and insurers must report financial data to the Alabama Department of Public Health, and an independent expert will study the law’s impact on access to ambulance services. The law expires on June 1, 2029. It directly affects emergency medical service providers and patients covered by health insurance plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits surprise billing for ambulance services, requiring insurers to pay set rates (200% Medicare) so patients pay only standard copay, protecting patient financial rights and improving access to emergency care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Public Health

died · Alabama · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 245: Income Taxes, tax deduction for members of a Health Care Sharing Ministry for certain health care sharing expenses

SB 245, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act, allows members of health care sharing ministries to deduct their contributions toward qualified health care expenses from their Alabama state income tax, starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects individuals who are members of these ministries, treating their contributions similarly to health insurance premiums and health savings account expenses for tax deduction purposes. The bill requires taxpayers to claim the deduction on their state tax return and provides that contributions received for medical expenses (without a prior deduction) are not taxable income. This legislation aims to create tax parity between health care sharing ministries and traditional health insurance for Alabama taxpayers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new tax deduction for health care sharing ministry members, providing tax relief similar to health insurance deductions, advancing tax parity for this group.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows tax deductions for health care sharing ministry contributions, treating them like insurance premiums to expand coverage options and improve affordability for members.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Insurance

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signed · Alabama · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 361: Living organ donors; to prohibit discrimination in obtaining insurance coverage, provide paid medical leave for public employees who donate organs and a tax credit to private sector employers that provide similar paid leave to their employees

HB 361, the Alabama Living Donor Protection Act, prohibits insurers from denying or limiting disability, life, or long-term care insurance coverage to living organ donors. It requires public employers (state/local government) to provide up to 80 hours of paid medical leave for employees donating organs, with no retaliation allowed. Private employers offering similar paid leave (minimum 80 hours or 15 days) qualify for a 25% tax credit (capped at $2,000 annually) for tax years starting in 2027. The bill directly affects organ donors, insurers, public employees, and private sector employers. It aims to remove financial barriers to donation through concrete protections and incentives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurance discrimination against organ donors and mandates paid medical leave, expanding healthcare access and protecting donor rights under coverage policies.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 80 hours paid medical leave for public employees donating organs and tax credits for private employers offering similar leave, expanding worker benefits and protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care Paid Leave

passed · Alabama · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 177: Health; to require that coverage for breast cancer screening be provided without charging an insured a deductible or copayment

SB 177 requires all health benefit plans sold in Alabama to cover breast cancer screening and diagnostic breast exams without charging insured individuals any deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. It directly affects Alabamians who rely on health insurance for these services, expanding existing coverage for mammograms (for women 40+) to include diagnostic imaging of breast abnormalities. The bill mandates that insurers provide these specific screenings at no out-of-pocket cost, applying to all health benefit plans (excluding limited policies like dental or accident coverage). The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screening coverage, expanding access to preventive care and protecting patient rights under insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · Alabama · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 152: Children's Health Insurance Program and Department of Human Resources, tax funds distributed

SB 152 increases the administrative funding for Alabama's food stamp program from 5% to 7.5% of statewide benefits issued, directly affecting the Department of Human Resources (DHR). It also changes how the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is funded by removing its requirement to be prioritized against use tax revenue, instead allowing other state revenue sources to support CHIP. The bill amends specific sections of Alabama law to adjust the distribution of sales and use tax funds, ensuring DHR receives a fixed annual amount for food stamp administration while providing flexibility for CHIP funding. These changes are limited to administrative adjustments in tax fund allocation, with no new program benefits or eligibility changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases DHR administrative funding from 5% to 7.5% and adjusts tax revenue allocation to support CHIP, directly advancing public service funding under tax policy.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modifies CHIP funding to allow flexible revenue sources, preventing defunding and ensuring program stability for children's health insurance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Children's Health Insurance Medicaid

signed · Alabama · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 300: Health; to require that coverage for breast cancer screening be provided without charging an insurance deductible or copayment to a beneficiary

HB 300 requires all health insurance plans sold in Alabama that cover breast exams to provide screening and diagnostic mammograms without charging deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It directly affects Alabama residents with health insurance, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast screenings under the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. The bill covers both routine screening exams (for high-risk individuals) and diagnostic exams (to evaluate abnormalities), but excludes limited policies like dental-only or Medicare supplements. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screenings under insurance, improving patient access and aligning with patient protection indicators per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

signed · Alabama · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 170: Health insurance, safe harbor created

SB 170 creates a "safe harbor" to protect health insurance plans that qualify for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) from conflicting state or federal rules. It ensures these plans remain eligible for federal HSA benefits by requiring that cost-sharing rules (like copays) only apply after the federal minimum deductible is met. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in high-deductible health plans that allow HSA contributions, preventing state mandates or federal guidance from disqualifying their plans. It requires Alabama's Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules implementing this protection, maintaining federal HSA eligibility for enrollees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans from disqualification, ensuring continued access to tax-advantaged savings for medical expenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 283: Health insurance, safe harbor created

HB 283 creates a "safe harbor" to protect health savings account (HSA) qualified plans in Alabama from state regulations that might conflict with federal rules. It ensures that if a state cost-sharing requirement (like copays or deductibles) would disqualify a plan as a high-deductible health plan under federal law, that requirement only applies *after* the federal minimum deductible is met. This directly affects Alabama residents enrolled in HSA-qualified health insurance plans, preserving their eligibility for tax-advantaged health savings accounts. The bill updates state insurance code references to incorporate this coordination mechanism, preventing state laws from unintentionally disrupting federal HSA program compliance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects HSA-qualified plans from conflicting state regulations, preserving federal compliance and access to tax-advantaged healthcare savings for Alabama residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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