STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5972
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 14, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sens. SEWARD, HANNON, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the public health law, in relation
to permitting pregnant women to enroll in the state health insurance
exchange at any time
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 3217-c of the insurance law is amended by adding a
2 new subsection (d) to read as follows:
3 (d) An insurer, subject to the provisions of this article, a corpo-
4 ration organized pursuant to article forty-three of this chapter, or a
5 licensed maintenance organization under article forty-four of the public
6 health law, that issues a health insurance policy or contract that
7 provides eligibility for a special enrollment period shall allow for the
8 enrollment of a pregnant individual at any time after the commencement
9 of the pregnancy, as certified by a health care practitioner licensed
10 pursuant to title eight of the education law acting within the scope of
11 his or her practice. Coverage shall be effective as of the first of the
12 month in which the individual receives certification of the pregnancy.
13 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2507 to
14 read as follows:
15 § 2507. Special enrollment; pregnancy. An insurer, subject to the
16 provisions of article thirty-two of the insurance law, a corporation
17 organized pursuant to article forty-three of the insurance law, or a
18 licensed maintenance organization under article forty-four of this chap-
19 ter, that issues a health insurance policy or contract that provides
20 eligibility for a special enrollment period shall allow for the enroll-
21 ment of a pregnant individual at any time after the commencement of the
22 pregnancy, as certified by a health care practitioner licensed pursuant
23 to title eight of the education law, acting within his or her scope of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09939-14-5
S. 5972 2
1 practice. Coverage shall be deemed effective as of the first of the
2 month in which the individual receives certification of the pregnancy.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
4 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
5 qualified health plans issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on
6 or after such effective date; provided, however, that effective imme-
7 diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
8 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
9 authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such
10 effective date.