AZ HB2218

Requires health care entities to provide state employees with estimated costs for proposed admissions, procedures, or services within two working days, including facility fees and amounts for in-network (allowed amount) or out-of-network (charged amount) providers.

Mandates health insurers offering coverage to state employees establish a toll-free telephone number and website where enrollees can request average prices paid to network providers in the past 12 months and obtain cost estimates within two business days.

Requires health insurers to provide enrollees with estimates of maximum allowed amounts and the estimated out-of-pocket costs (copayments, deductibles, coinsurance) for covered medical services, with notice that actual amounts may vary due to unforeseen services.

Requires health insurers to rebate 50 percent of cost savings to enrollees who choose lower-cost providers (minimum $50 savings threshold), and requires out-of-network costs to count toward out-of-pocket limits if the enrollee has out-of-network benefits.

Applies to any health insurance contract for state employee coverage issued or renewed on or after a date to be specified.