An Act to Provide Insurance Coverage for a Second Opinion If a Health Care Provider Recommends an Abortion for Health or Safety Reasons
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0995
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: QUINT, HARRINGTON, COLLAMORE, COLLINGS, DODGE, PERRY, THERIAULT, WHITE, BALDACCI
Amends: 22 MRSA §1599-A, 24-A MRSA §4320-M

Legislative Document
No. 995
H.P. 630
House of Representatives, March 7, 2023
An Act to Provide Insurance Coverage for a Second Opinion If a 
Health Care Provider Recommends an Abortion for Health or 
Safety Reasons
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative QUINT of Hodgdon.
Cosponsored by Senator HARRINGTON of York and
Representatives: COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, COLLINGS of Portland, DODGE of Belfast, 
PERRY of Calais, PERRY of Bangor, THERIAULT of Fort Kent, WHITE of Waterville, 
Senator: BALDACCI of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  Information related to health insurance coverage for 2nd opinion.  A health 
care professional, as defined in section 1596, subsection 1, paragraph C, shall provide to a 
pregnant person information related to the right to a 2nd opinion when the health care 
professional has recommended an abortion due to the health or safety of the pregnant 
person or fetus and the availability of health insurance coverage for that 2nd opinion, 
including the waiver of any cost-sharing requirements, as required by Title 24-A, section 
4320-M. The health care professional shall provide the notice required by this subsection 
in writing and in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner for the pregnant person, 
unless the pregnant person is unable to communicate and has not designated an authorized 
representative to receive the notice.
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA §4320-M, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Second opinion.  At an enrollee's request, a carrier shall provide coverage for 
the costs of a 2nd opinion and any additional testing by any provider of the enrollee's choice 
after the enrollee's provider has recommended an abortion due to the health or safety of the 
enrollee or fetus.
Sec. 3.  24-A MRSA §4320-M, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 274, §5, is 
amended to read:
2.  Limits; deductible; copayment; coinsurance.  A health plan that provides 
coverage for the services required by this section may contain provisions for maximum 
benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the 
extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section. A 
health plan may not impose any deductible, copayment, coinsurance or other cost-sharing 
requirement for the costs of a 2nd opinion in accordance with subsection 1-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a health insurance carrier to provide coverage for the costs of a 2nd 
opinion and any additional testing by any provider of the enrollee's choice after the 
enrollee's provider has recommended an abortion due to the health or safety of the enrollee 
or fetus. The bill also requires health care professionals to inform a patient in writing of the 
right to a 2nd opinion and the availability of health insurance coverage for the costs of that 
opinion.