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Who cares
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Sponsors
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History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to rules
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring certain health insurance policies to cover diagnostic testing for colorectal cancer
Purpose
To expand certain health insurance providers' coverage for colorectal cancer screenings to individuals over the age of forty-five or to any individuals who are considered to be at high risk for colorectal cancer.
Summary of provisions
Adds a new paragraph 27 to of section 3215 subsection (i), section 3221 subsection (k), and section 4303 subsection (gg) of the insurance law, providing that every health insurance policy shall include coverage for colorectal cancer screenings for individuals over the age of forty-five or for those individuals who have been deemed at high risk for colorectal cancer. Coverage shall include various standard diagnostic testing methods or any combination of such testing that the policyholder's physician deems medically necessary and appropriate. This paragraph also includes a definition of what constitutes "high risk for colorectal cancer" for purposes of this section.
Justification
Colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum, is the third most common cancer found in men and women and is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. However, colorectal cancer, in its early stages, is one of the most curable forms of cancer. When detected early, colorectal cancer is up to 90 percent curable. Even so, less than one-half of colorectal cancers are detected at an early stage, when they are most treatable. At least 60 percent of Americans age 50 and older have never been screened for colorectal cancer. Colorectal screening is vital in securing early detection of the disease, as there are often no early warning signs or symptoms. This bill would ensure that colorectal cancer screening methods are covered by all health insurance providers. By mandating coverage for colorectal cancer screenings, lowering the age threshold found in many insurance plans that offer such coverage to the age of forty-five, as well as mandating coverage for individuals of any age who are at high risk for colorectal cancer, this bill ensures that a greater number of New Yorkers will have access to these potentially life-saving procedures.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies of life, contracts and certificate issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.