What's happening
This bill prohibits animal insurance policies in New York from excluding or limiting coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Why it matters
Ensures pet insurance coverage for animals with prior health issues. By prohibiting exclusions or limitations for pre-existing conditions, the bill guarantees that animals with health histories can still receive insurance benefits, potentially making pet insurance more valuable for owners of older or previously ill pets.
Reduces unexpected out-of-pocket costs for pet owners. Pet owners will be less likely to face surprise denials or reduced payouts for treatments related to conditions their animal had before obtaining insurance, leading to greater financial predictability and security.
May increase overall insurance premiums or impact availability. Insurers can no longer limit their risk by excluding pre-existing conditions, which could lead to higher premiums or changes in policy offerings as companies adjust to the increased risk pool—impacting affordability and accessibility for some consumers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Pet Insurance Exclusions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6742
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to limiting or excluding pre-existing conditions in animal insurance policies
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 3457 to read as follows:
§ 3457. Pre-existing conditions in animal insurance policies. Animal insurance policies shall not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to pre-existing conditions of any animal.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that this act shall apply to insurance contracts issued or renewed on or after such effective date, and shall apply at the next required policy period, commencing on or after such date, to any insurance contract written prior to the effective date of this act.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13766-01-9
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 limiting or excluding pre-existing conditions in animal insurance poli- cies
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to limiting or excluding pre-existing conditions in animal insurance poli- cies
Purpose
To prohibit animal insurance policies sold in New York from containing exclusions or limitations on coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds a new section 3457 to the Insurance Law stating that animal insurance policies shall not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to pre-existing conditions of any animal.
Section 2: Effective date.
Justification
Around New York, thousands of people have purchased pet insurance for their companion animals only to find that when their pet is injured or sick, their insurance company refuses to cover the cost of treatment or medicine, citing supposed preexisting conditions for the pet. Just as federal and state law now forbid denial of coverage or payment based on pre-existing conditions for humans, the law should forbid denial of coverage or payment based on pre-existing conditions for animals. Insurance companies collect millions of dollars in pet insurance premi- ums from New Yorkers; they should not be allowed to deny treatment to pets just when it is needed most.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None to the state
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that this act shall apply to insurance contracts issued or renewed on or after such effective date, and shall apply at the next required policy period, commencing on or after such date, to any insurance contract written prior to the effective date of this act.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.