Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L; amd §365-a, Soc Serv L
Provides that dental insurance coverage shall include coverage for night guards; defines dental night guards; provides that dental night guards shall be covered under Medicaid.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6919
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 18, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the social services law, in
relation to insurance coverage for dental night guards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph 40 to read as follows:
3 (40) (A) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for
4 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards
5 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist.
6 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, "night guard" means a protective
7 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and
8 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums.
9 § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
10 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
11 (23) (A) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for
12 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards
13 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist.
14 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, "night guard" means a protective
15 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and
16 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums.
17 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
18 subsection (ww) to read as follows:
19 (ww) (1) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for
20 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards
21 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist.
22 (2) For purposes of this subsection, "night guard" means a protective
23 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and
24 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07027-01-5
A. 6919 2
1 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (f-1) to read as follows:
3 (f-1) dental night guards, as such term is defined in paragraph forty
4 of section thirty-two hundred sixteen of the insurance law, when such
5 night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist;
6 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to poli-
7 cies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or
8 after such effective date.
