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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to requiring medical insurance carriers to provide certain coverage for service animals
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Harry B. Bronson
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring medical insurance carriers to provide certain coverage for service animals
Purpose
This bill will require health insurance coverage for the cost of service animals.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law such that every policy which provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive-type coverage must provide coverage for the acquisition, training, certification and veterinary care of a service animal when such animal is deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.
Section 2 amends subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law such that every policy which provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive-type coverage must provide coverage for the acquisition, training, certification and veterinary care of a service animal when such animal is deemed medically necessary.
Section 3 amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection such that every contract issued by a hospital services corporation or a health services corporation which provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive type coverage must provide coverage for the acquisition, training, certification and veterinary care of a service animal when such animal is deemed medically necessary.
Section 4 designates an effective date.
Justification
Service animals are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. They are working dogs, not pets. These animals provide very important tasks for individuals with a broad range of disabilities. For example, service animals may guide those who are blind, alert people who are deaf, pull a wheelchair, calm an individual with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who is having an anxiety attack, and prevent injury among people with epilepsy and autism.
Service animals can prevent serious injury and hospitalization, thereby reducing health care costs. However, without medical insurance coverage for acquisition, training, certification, and veterinary care, the out-of-pocket expense for service animals can be prohibitive. This bill seeks to remedy this by mandating coverage for all service animals, as deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.
Legislative history
New legislation.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.