Assigned to COM FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1052
biomarker testing; insurance coverage; definitions
Purpose
Excludes limited benefit coverage from the requirement for disability insurers and group
or blanket disability insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing.
Background
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions regulates policies, certificates,
evidences of coverage and contracts of insurance that are issued or delivered by health care
insurers. Health care insurers include disability insurers, group disability insurers, blanket
disability insurers, health care services organizations, hospital service corporations and medical
service corporations (A.R.S. § 20-1379).
In 2022, the Legislature required, for contracts, evidences of coverage and policies issued,
a hospital or medical service corporation, health care service organization, disability insurer and
group or blanket disability insurer to provide biomarker testing (Laws 2022, Chapter 219).
Biomarker testing aids in the diagnosing and monitoring of cancer during and after treatment. Each
person's cancer presents a unique pattern of biomarkers and some cancer treatments may only work
for individuals whose cancers have certain biomarkers (NCI).
Statute defines limited benefit coverage as an insurance policy that is designed, advertised
and marketed to supplement major medical insurance and that includes accident only, dental only,
vision only, disability income only, fixed or hospital indemnity, specified disease insurance, credit
insurance or Taft-Hartley trusts (A.R.S. § 20-1137).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Excludes limited benefit coverage from the requirement for disability insurers and group or
blanket disability insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 30, 2023
JT/sr