What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies to cover the costs of acquiring, training, certifying, and caring for medically necessary service animals.
Why it matters
Could significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. for people who need service animals, as expenses related to acquisition, training, certification, and ongoing veterinary care can be substantial and are often not covered by insurance.
Expands the definition of "medically necessary" care. to include service animals, meaning that individuals with disabilities or medical conditions may have greater access to these critical supports if recommended by a licensed physician.
May increase demand for service animals and related services,. prompting growth in training organizations and veterinary care providers, while also potentially raising questions about medical necessity standards and oversight.
Could set a precedent for broader insurance coverage of assistive devices or supports,. encouraging future legislation that expands what is considered essential for healthcare beyond traditional treatments.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Insurers Must Cover Service Animals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- 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.
Insurers Must Cover Service Animals
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Joseph E. Robach
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1928
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring medical insurance carriers to provide certain coverage for service animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
(34) 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, as defined in subdivision one of section 242.00 of the penal law, when such animal is deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 20 to read as follows:
(20) 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, as defined in subdivision one of section 242.00 of the penal law, when such animal is deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (oo) to read as follows:
(oo) 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, as defined in subdivision one of section 242.00 of the penal law, when such animal is deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03038-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.