What's happening
This bill ensures that retired public employees in New York retain the same skilled nursing care health benefits when they become eligible for Medicare, with possible coordination as secondary insurance.
Why it matters
Protects Continuity of Care. By prohibiting any reduction in skilled nursing benefits when a retiree becomes eligible for Medicare, the bill ensures retirees do not lose or see diminished access to crucial care as they age, preventing gaps during a vulnerable period.
Limits Out-of-Pocket Surprises. Retirees often face unexpected expenses when health plans shift coverage responsibilities to Medicare. This bill helps maintain predictable coverage for skilled nursing care, reducing potential financial shocks.
Clarifies Insurance Coordination. The legislation allows for health plans to work as secondary insurance to Medicare, which means retirees can still benefit from both coverages without losing access to skilled nursing services, streamlining claims and coverage for essential care.
Addresses Potential Inequities. Without this protection, retirees could experience a drop in health benefits just because they transition to Medicare, potentially creating unfair disparities in care between active employees and retirees. This bill ensures parity and stability in retiree health coverage.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Retiree Health Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 5759a
- Amend (t) and recommit to civil service and pensions
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Referred to civil service and pensions
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.
Keep Retiree Health Benefits Equal
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor John T. McDonald III
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5759--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions -- recommitted to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to ensuring identical health benefits for skilled nursing care for public retirees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 161 of the civil service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. There shall be no reduction of benefits for skilled nursing care provided to retired employees or covered dependents under such health benefit plan at the time such person becomes eligible for medicare coverage; provided, however, retiree benefits under such health benefit plan may be coordinated with and treated as secondary insurance to medicare.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11738-02-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to ensuring identical health benefits for skilled nursing care for public retirees
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that no public retiree loses their skilled nursing care bene- fits when they enroll in Medicare
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation amends Section 161 of the civil service law by adding a new subdivision 4.
Justification
Public retirees are required to enroll in Medicare when they become eligible, which saves the State money when Medicare becomes the primary payer for the retiree. In doing so, the retiree should not lose any health benefit simply because the payer has changed.
In at least one instance, public retirees are losing the skilled nursing care benefit when they enroll in Medicare. The benefit for skilled nurs- ing care is reduced upon Medicare enrollment. The benefit for active employees and pre-Medicare retirees is 120 days without a requirement for any prior hospitalization. For Medicare-eligible retirees, the bene- fit is 20 days with a 3-day prior hospitalization requirement. This is an important benefit to retirees and should not be diminished. This bill provides that Civil Service will ensure that there is no reduction of benefits to retired employees when they enroll in Medicare.
Legislative history
New legislation
Fiscal impact to the state
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.