What's happening
This bill allows victims of domestic violence to request an alternative address or contact information for health insurance claims or billing to protect their safety.
Why it matters
Strengthens privacy protections for domestic violence survivors. by allowing them to request that insurers use an alternative address or contact method for sensitive communications, reducing the risk that an abuser could gain access to their personal information through insurance paperwork.
Empowers survivors without requiring a court order. , since a signed, sworn statement of domestic violence is sufficient to trigger these protections, making it more accessible for those who may not have obtained an official order of protection.
Extends protections to children and their guardians. when the child is covered under the policy, ensuring that vulnerable minors and their caretakers can also safeguard their location and contact information.
Mandates regulatory guidance for insurers. to ensure compliance and consistency, signaling a coordinated effort among state agencies to prevent inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information that could jeopardize the safety of victims.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Domestic Violence Victims' Privacy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
15 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.120
- Returned to assembly
- Died in senate
- Referred to insurance
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.285
- Reported
- Reported referred to codes
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Protect Domestic Violence Victims' Privacy
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Joseph E. Robach
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2832
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CYMBROWITZ, ABBATE, BRONSON, MALLIOTAKIS, PEOPLES-STOKES, WEPRIN, ABINANTI, SEAWRIGHT, BICHOTTE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. RICHARDSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to allowing victims of domestic violence the opportunity to designate an alternate address for health insurance claims or billing purposes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 2612 of the insurance law, subsection (f) as amended by chapter 246 of the laws of 2005 and subsection (g) as added by chapter 361 of the laws of 2006, are amended to read as follows:
(f) If any person covered by an insurance policy issued to another person as the policyholder delivers to the insurer that issued the policy, at its home office, (i) a valid order of protection against the policyholder, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this state, or (ii) a request to designate an alternative mailing address, telephone number or other contact information for the purpose of receiving specific claim information or for specific billing purposes relating to such insured accompanied by a signed statement made under oath that he or she is a victim of domestic violence and the disclosure of such information would endanger him or her the insurer shall be prohibited for the duration of the order, or until the request made pursuant to this paragraph, is cancelled by the requesting party in writing from disclosing to the policyholder the address [and], telephone number or other contact information of the insured, or of any person or entity providing covered services to the insured or from mailing any information described in this paragraph to any address other than the designated alternative address provided pursuant to such paragraph. If a child is the covered person, the right established by this subsection may be asserted by, and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05156-02-9
A. 2832 2
shall also extend to, the parent or guardian of the child. The superintendent, in consultation with the commissioner of health and the office of children and family services and the office for the prevention of domestic violence, shall promulgate rules to guide and enable insurers to guard against the disclosure of the address and location of an insured who is a victim of domestic violence.
(g) If any person covered by a group insurance policy delivers to the insurer that issued the policy, at its home office, (i) a valid order of protection against another person covered by the group policy, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this state, or (ii) a request to designate an alternative mailing address, telephone number or other contact information for the purpose of receiving specific claim information or for specific billing purposes relating to such insured accompanied by a signed statement made under oath that he or she is a victim of domestic violence and the disclosure of such information would endanger him or her the insurer shall be prohibited for the duration of the order or until the request made pursuant to this paragraph, is cancelled by the requesting party in writing from disclosing to the person against whom [the] a valid order of protection was issued the address [and], telephone number or other contact information of the insured person covered by the order of protection[,]; mailing any information described in this paragraph to any address other than the designated alternative address provided pursuant to such paragraph; or disclosing the address, telephone number, or other contact information of any person or entity providing covered services to the insured person covered by the order of protection or the person making a request under this subsection. If a child is the covered person, the right established by this subsection may be asserted by, and shall also extend to, the parent or guardian of the child. The superintendent, in consultation with the commissioner of health, the office of children and family services and the office for the prevention of domestic violence, shall promulgate rules to guide and enable insurers to guard against the disclosure of the address and location of an insured who is a victim of domestic violence.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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.