What's happening
This bill requires large group health insurance policies in New York to cover scalp cooling systems during cancer chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Targets only large group insurance plans. , meaning individuals and small businesses would not be guaranteed this coverage—this could create disparities in access based on employer size.
Addresses a key quality-of-life issue for cancer patients. by helping preserve hair during chemotherapy, which can reduce emotional distress and support mental health during treatment.
Allows insurers to apply cost-sharing mechanisms. (such as deductibles and copays), so patients may still face out-of-pocket costs depending on their specific plan design.
Sets a clear implementation timeline. (effective January 1, 2026), giving employers, insurers, and healthcare providers time to adapt to the new coverage mandate.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Chemo Hair Loss Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.14
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- 3rd reading cal.48
- Substituted for S774
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.69
- Rules report cal.69
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- 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.
Cover Scalp Cooling for Chemotherapy
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
430
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring certain large group health insurance policies and contracts to cover scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment; to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
2063-A and A. 38-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof; and to repeal certain provisions of the insurance law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 12-b of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2063-A and A. 38-A, is REPEALED.
§ 2. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph (12-b) of subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2063-A and A. 38-A, is amended to read as follows:
(A) Every large group policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state that provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensivetype coverage and provides coverage cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used in connection with cancer chemotherapy treatment. Coverage provided under this paragraph
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02929-01-5
may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance, including copayments, as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 3. Paragraph (1) of subsection (q-2) of section 4303 of the insurance law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2063-A and A. 38-A, is amended to read as follows:
(1) Every [policy] large group contract delivered or issued for delivery in this state that provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive-type coverage and provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used in connection with cancer chemotherapy treatment. Coverage provided under this subsection may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance, including copayments, as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given [policy] contract.
§ 4. Section 4 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2063-A and A. 38-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026 and shall apply to any large group policy or contract issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after such date.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the insurance law relating to providing health insurance coverage for scalp cooling systems for the preservation of hair during cancer chemotherapy treatment, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2063-A and A. 38-A, takes effect.
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.