Health Insurance - Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Illnesses - Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment

SB 969 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the full duration of long-term antibiotic treatment (over 4 weeks) for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses when ordered by a licensed physician for treatment purposes. It prohibits these entities from imposing limits on treatment length or denying coverage solely because the treatment is labeled "unproven," "experimental," or "investigational." The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2027, directly affecting patients diagnosed with these conditions and their insurers. This ensures consistent coverage for extended antibiotic therapy without arbitrary restrictions based on treatment classification.