Relates to third-party notification prior to termination of health insurance for persons 65 and older

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to third-party notification prior to termination of health insurance policies for subscribers aged sixty-five years or older

Summary of provisions

Section one amends subsection (c) of section 3111 of the insurance law. This bill mandates that prior to cancellation of any policy of accident and health insurance held by a person sixty-five years of age or older, notice of such impending cancellation must be given, in writing to a third party. A third party may be the competent adult child, competent sibling under the age of sixty-five, a competent grandchild, niece or nephew 18 years of age or older, or a person whose name and address the subscriber has provided for the insurance company pursuant to paragraph fifteen of subsection (c) of section 3216.

Section two enacts this bill on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

Justification

This bill would assist those elderly individuals who are incapable of comprehending the cancellation of their accident and health insurance policies by insurance companies. Allowing for third-party notification will ensure that these individuals will not have their lives threatened by the loss of necessary insurance policy coverage.

Fiscal implication

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.