What's happening
This bill requires health insurers to provide copies of group insurance contracts upon written request by covered individuals in collectively bargained plans.
Why it matters
Improves transparency for workers. By requiring insurers to provide copies of group contracts upon request, employees in unionized workplaces can better understand exactly what their health insurance covers and what their rights are.
Empowers individuals in disputes. Having direct access to the actual contract language can help individuals resolve disputes with insurers or employers about coverage, costs, or denied claims, rather than relying on summaries or employer-provided information.
Strengthens collective bargaining outcomes. Unions and their members will have easier access to the specific terms negotiated, helping ensure employers and insurers are honoring the agreements made during collective bargaining.
Reduces administrative barriers. The bill sets a clear 30-day timeline for insurers to respond, making the process of obtaining these important documents more predictable and less burdensome for covered individuals.
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Who cares
People covered by collectively bargained group health contracts
They would gain the right to receive a copy of their contract within thirty days after submitting a written request.
Health insurers and HMOs
They would have to provide collectively bargained group contracts to covered individuals within thirty days of receiving written requests.
Labor unions
The bill would give individuals covered by health contracts negotiated through collective bargaining a direct way to obtain those contracts.
Headline styles
Faster Health Plan Documents
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
14 Co-sponsors
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 Respond in 30 Days
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4547
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, PEOPLES-STOKES, GOTTFRIED, ORTIZ, ZEBROW- SKI, D'URSO, BLAKE, BICHOTTE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK, HYNDMAN, MOSLEY, L. ROSENTHAL, SIMON, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the public health law, in relation to disclosure and access to health insurance plan documents
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subsection (b) of section 3217-a of the insurance law, as added by chapter 705 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
(3) provide a copy of the most recent individual, direct pay subscriber contracts and, upon the written request of an individual covered under a group contract which was the subject of collective bargaining, provide a copy of such contract within thirty days of the receipt of such request;
§ 2. Paragraph 3 of subsection (b) of section 4324 of the insurance law, as added by chapter 705 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
(3) provide a copy of the most recent individual, direct pay subscriber contracts and, upon the written request of an individual covered under a group contract which was the subject of collective bargaining, provide a copy of such contract within thirty days of the receipt of such request;
§ 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of section 4408 of the public health law, as added by chapter 705 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
(c) provide a copy of the most recent individual, direct pay subscriber contracts and, upon the written request of an individual covered under a group contract which was the subject of collective bargaining, provide a copy of such contract within thirty days of the receipt of such request;
§ 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.
LBD07985-02-9
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.