What's happening
This bill prohibits insurance policies in New York from covering physician-assisted suicide or aid-in-dying prescription drugs.
Why it matters
Restricts end-of-life choices for patients. By prohibiting insurance coverage for physician-assisted suicide, the bill could make it more difficult or costly for terminally ill individuals to access aid-in-dying options, effectively limiting their autonomy and available choices at the end of life.
Potentially increases financial burden. Patients seeking physician-assisted suicide or aid-in-dying prescription drugs would have to pay entirely out-of-pocket, which could make these options inaccessible for those without sufficient personal resources.
Reflects and reinforces ethical and policy debates. The bill signals a policy stance against physician-assisted suicide in New York, which could influence broader debates and set a precedent for how other states or insurers address coverage for end-of-life interventions.
Impacts insurers and healthcare providers. Insurers would need to review and potentially alter existing policies to ensure compliance, while healthcare providers may face added administrative burdens and potential confusion when discussing end-of-life options with patients.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Insurance for Assisted Suicide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 4
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3989
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting insurance coverage for physician assisted suicide
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (n) to read as follows:
(n) (1) No policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drug.
(2) For purposes of this subsection "physician-assisted suicide" shall mean the voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician and "aid-in-dying prescription drug" shall mean a drug determined and prescribed by a physician which an individual may choose to self-administer to bring about his or her death.
§ 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (t) to read as follows:
(t) (1) No policy of group or blanket accident and health insurance shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drugs.
(2) For purposes of this subsection "physician-assisted suicide" shall mean voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician and "aid-in-dying prescription drug" shall mean a drug determined and prescribed by a physician which an individual may choose to self-administer to bring about his or her death.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (rr) to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09592-01-7
S. 3989 2
(rr) (1) No contract issued by a medical expense indemnity corporation, hospital service corporation or health service corporation shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drugs.
(2) For purposes of this subsection "physician-assisted suicide" shall mean voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician and "aid-in-dying prescription drug" shall mean a drug determined and prescribed by a physician which an individual may choose to self-administer to bring about his or her death.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all contracts entered into, renewed, modified or amended on or after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting insurance coverage for physician assisted suicide
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide that no policy of accident or health insurance shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drug.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection. No policy of accident or health insurance shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drug.
Section 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection. No group or blanket accident and health insurance policy shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drugs.
Section 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection. No contract issued by a medical expense indemnity corporation, hospital service corporation or health service corporation shall provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide, including but not limited to, coverage for any aid-in-dying prescription drugs.
(For purposes of the above subsections "Physician-assisted suicide" shall mean voluntary termination of one's own life by administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician and "aid-in-dying prescription drug" shall mean a drug determined and prescribed by a physician which an individual may choose to self-administer to bring about his or her death.)
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately
Justification
A person suffering from a terminally ill disease should not be denied coverage for health care treatments that would help extend their lives because the cost of treatment is expensive. If legalized, assisted-suicide laws will create an incentive for insurance companies to deny terminally ill patients coverage for treatment. Patients fighting for a longer life may be denied treatment, yet approved coverage for aid in dying drugs.
A terminal patient's decision to end one's life or continue treatment should not be based on an insurance company's decision to provide coverage for such treatment. By prohibiting insurance companies from covering aid in dying drugs, individuals will be able to make independent decisions on whether or not to use such drugs.
A terminally ill California woman Stephanie Parker was denied coverage for chemotherapy treatment but approved aid in dying drugs, shortly after California passed a law permitting physician-assisted suicide.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.