Enacts the New York state veteran health insurance act

Summary of specific provisions

Section one of the bill would provide that this act would be know and may be cited as the New York State Veteran Health Insurance Act.

Section Two of this bill would amend the executive law to adding a new section 368 to provide that the New York state division of military and naval affairs would be directed to administrate, in cooperation with the division of veterans affairs, a New York state veteran health insurance program. Such program would provide any person, who is a member of the New York Army National Guard or the New York Air National Guard, and who is eligible to enroll in the TRICARE Reserve Select Health Insurance Program with any and all enrollment fees, cost sharing or co-payments necessary for such person to enroll in and obtain individual or family coverage under such program. The payment of such fees, cost sharing or co-payments may be provided, pursuant to regulation, either directly to the TRICARE Reserve Select Health Insurance Program, or its agents, or to the individual enrollee, upon sufficient proof of enrollment. Nothing in this section, however, shall require the Veteran health insurance program to provide payment for program deductibles or for the 20 percent non plan medical provider co-payment, or the 15 percent plan medical provider co-payment.

Section Three of this bill would amend the military law to add a new section 246-a to direct the New York state division of military and naval affairs to cooperate with the division of veterans affairs to accomplish this task.

Justification

Our nation's war on terrorism has required that the members of the New York. National Guard and Air National Guard step forward to play a critical role in the security of both the State and the Nation. The challenges which have been ably met by. the New York National Guard can continue to be overcome only as long as the New York National Guard continues to attract highly qualified citizen-soldiers committed to the protection of the State and Nation.

Members of the New York National Guard and Air National Guard presently receive health care coverage from the federal veterans

administration if they are called to active duty, and then thereafter for a limited period of time. Such National Guard members, however, are eligible, under a federally arranged program to receive health insurance from a private insurer known as TRICARE.

In order to receive such coverage, however, such service members must pay a co-payment of nearly $3,000. As many members of the Guard do not have the resources to afford this co-pay, many go uninsured and without coverage.

This bill would have the state of New York pay for the co-pay as a benefit to Guard members. thereby assuring that they have health insurance, and relieving any cost that could incur to medicaid or child health plus. As a result, for a fraction of the cost that it would expend to cover a state employee, this program would assure Guard members have family health insurance coverage.

This bill would not only serve as an important recruitment and retention incentive, but also provide a fitting reward for their public, state and national service.

Prior legislative history

2008 - S.5063B - Passed Senate.

Fiscal implications

According to DMNA and TRICARE it is estimated that no more than approximately 3000 individuals would take advantage of this coverage option in the event that the co-pay is provided. With family coverage, such state share would constitute $253 per month or $3036 per year. This would effect a total maximum cost of $9,1 08.000. Due to the age and income demographics of the personnel involved, however, many would not take have to purchase family coverage (thereby lowering their annual cost to $972). Additionally, income demographics of the personnel involved, indicate that many of these individuals would also otherwise qualify for medicaid or child health plus. As a result of these two qualifications, the maximum cost of $9,108,000 estimated for this program would actually be far less, to the point where this proposal could actually be close to revenue neutral.

Effective date

This act would take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.