What's happening
This bill prohibits insurers from discriminating against individuals prescribed medications like Naloxone or Narcan to block opioid effects.
Why it matters
Protects individuals using opioid-blocking medications (like Naloxone or Narcan) from being penalized by life insurance or annuity providers simply due to their prescription history, unless there is clear actuarial evidence to justify it.
Aims to reduce stigma and encourage the use of life-saving medications for opioid overdose prevention by ensuring insurance access is not jeopardized by seeking such prescriptions.
Could lead to broader societal benefits by supporting public health efforts to combat the opioid crisis, as people may be more willing to seek help or carry these medications without fear of insurance consequences.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Stop Insurance Opioid Bias
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S3159A
- Rules report cal.163
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to insurance
- Print number 5952a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Protect Opioid Blocker Patients
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Pete Harckham
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5952--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to unfair discrimination by insurers for the use of prescriptions to block the effects of opioids
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 2617 to read as follows:
§ 2617. Unfair discrimination for the use of prescriptions to block the effects of opioids. No insurer or entity authorized to issue the kinds of insurance specified in paragraphs one or two of subsection (a) of section one thousand one hundred thirteen of this chapter shall refuse to issue a life insurance policy or annuity contract or adjust the amount of premiums, or rates, charged for life insurance policies or annuity contracts for any individual solely because such individual has been prescribed medication used to block the effects of opioids, including, but not limited to, Naloxone and Narcan, unless such action is based on sound actuarial principles or actual or reasonably anticipated experience.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08725-04-9
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.