Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a county that offers a self–insured employee health benefit plan in the State shall provide to each firefighter employed by the county coverage for preventive cancer screenings in accordance with the latest screening guidelines issued by the International Association of Fire Fighters. A county subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection may not impose a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible requirement on coverage of preventive cancer screenings for firefighters as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection. A county may satisfy the requirement in subsection (a) of this section by: providing a no–cost annual examination to firefighters employed by the county that includes preventive cancer screenings for firefighters in accordance with the latest screening guidelines issued by the International Association of Fire Fighters; or applying for a grant under Title 13, Subtitle 40 of the Health – General Article to pay for innovative cancer screening technologies, including a multicancer early detection blood test. This section may not be construed to prohibit a county subject to this section from providing coverages that are greater than or more favorable to an insured or an enrollee than the coverage required under this section.