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SB 1309CALIFORNIASession 20252026
High Impact

California SB 1309 requires health plans to cover lung cancer follow-up screenings with no out-of-pocket costs

Original title: Health care coverage: lung cancer.

August 13, 2026

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The Frame

What this does

This bill removes financial barriers for patients requiring diagnostic follow-up after initial lung cancer screenings, potentially increasing early detection rates for those covered by state-regulated health plans.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Health care service plan enrollees

Enrollees will receive coverage for lung cancer follow-up screenings without out-of-pocket costs.

Health care service plans

Plans must update coverage policies and are subject to criminal penalties for willful violations of the act.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

Starting January 1, 2027, health insurance plans in California must cover follow-up lung cancer screenings and diagnostic services without charging patients any copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance. This mandate applies to all health care service plan contracts and insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after that date.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to pay anything for lung cancer follow-up tests under this law?
No. The bill prohibits health plans from charging copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for follow-up lung cancer screenings and diagnostic services.
When does this new coverage requirement begin?
The requirement applies to health insurance policies and service plan contracts that are issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
Does this apply to high-deductible health plans?
Yes, unless the removal of cost-sharing would conflict with federal requirements for those specific types of plans.

Why It Matters

This bill removes financial barriers for patients requiring diagnostic follow-up after initial lung cancer screenings, potentially increasing early detection rates for those covered by state-regulated health plans.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

organizationDepartment of Managed Health CareRegulates health care service plans under the Knox-Keene Act.Map →
otherKnox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975Existing law governing health care service plans.Map →
organizationDepartment of InsuranceRegulates health insurers.Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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