What's happening
This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to cover up to $400 per year for prescription smoking cessation treatments ordered by a physician.
Why it matters
Reduces financial barriers for quitting smoking. By mandating insurance coverage for prescription smoking cessation treatments (up to $400/year per person), this bill could make proven therapies more accessible to people trying to quit, potentially lowering out-of-pocket costs that act as a deterrent.
Targets physician-guided cessation. The bill specifically requires that covered treatments be ordered by a physician, which encourages medically supervised quitting attempts, increasing the likelihood of safe and effective use of cessation medications.
Standardizes coverage across most insurance types. By amending multiple sections of insurance law, the bill applies to individual, group, and blanket policies, helping ensure that most insured New Yorkers—regardless of their plan type—have access to this benefit.
Contains protections for existing benefits and flexibility for insurers. The coverage cannot replace or reduce other existing benefits, and insurers may still impose reasonable deductibles or co-insurance, balancing consumer benefits with insurer flexibility and cost management.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cover Smoking Cessation Treatments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4002
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, PERKINS -- 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 coverage for treatment of smoking cessation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (oo) to read as follows:
(oo) A hospital service corporation or a health service corporation which provides group, group remittance or school blanket coverage for inpatient hospital care shall provide coverage for costs of prescription smoking cessation treatment that is ordered by a physician. Such treatment may be limited to four hundred dollars per year for each covered individual. This provision shall not apply to a contract issued pursuant to section four thousand three hundred five of this article which covers persons employed in more than one state or the benefit structure of which was the subject of collective bargaining affecting persons who are employed in more than one state. Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and co-insurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and are consistent with those imposed on other benefits within a given policy. Such coverage shall not replace, restrict or eliminate existing coverage provided by the policy.
§ 2. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
(34) Every policy shall provide coverage for costs of prescription smoking cessation treatment that is ordered by a physician. Such coverage may be limited to four hundred dollars per year for each covered individual.
§ 3. Subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 20 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05792-01-7
S. 4002 2
(20) Every group or blanket policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state which provides hospital, surgical or medical coverage shall provide coverage for costs of prescription smoking cessation treatment that is ordered by a physician. Such coverage may be limited to four hundred dollars for each covered individual.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such date; except that any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act are authorized and directed to be promulgated, amended or repealed on or before 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 coverage for treatment of smoking cessation
Purpose
To extend health insurance coverage to individuals for whom a physician prescribes or orders smoking cessation treatment.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends Section 4303 of the Insurance Law by adding a new subsection (oo) requiring hospital or health service corporations to provide up to $400 worth of coverage for smoking cessation treatment ordered by a physician.
Section 2 amends subsection (i) of Section 3216 of the Insurance Law by adding a new paragraph (34) which requires insurance policies to provide up to $400 of coverage for smoking cessation treatment recommended or prescribed by a physician.
Section 3 amends subsection (1) of Section 3221 of the Insurance Law by adding a new paragraph 20 requiring every group or blanket policy in New York State providing hospital, surgical or medical coverage to include up to $400 of coverage for smoking cessation treatment recommended or prescribed by a physician.
Justification
Tobacco addiction is one of the costliest and most easily avoidable public health problems, requiring Americans and their families to spend millions of dollars every year for the illnesses that are caused by smoking. There are smoking cessation programs that currently are available, however, these highly effective programs are not always covered by either state or private health insurers. Smoking cessation programs are relatively inexpensive when compared to the costly treatments required for victims of smoking-related illnesses. This legislation is necessary for smokers who wish to quit but cannot afford to pay all the expenses of such programs on their own. In addition, smoking cessation programs should be made more accessible to those who wish to quit smoking, particularly in light of the recent tax increases on cigarettes in New York State. As the price of cigarettes continues to rise, more people will want to stop smoking. Including insurance coverage for smoking cessation programs will make the goal of quitting smoking easier, increase public health and reduce the high expense of treating smoking related illnesses later in life.
Fiscal implications
To be determined. It is expected that the costs of providing coverage required by this bill to be more than offset by the savings to families and state insurance programs in hospital and medical costs.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall become a law and shall apply to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified or amended after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.