STATE OF NEW YORK
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3530
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to establishing
a veterans' dental insurance coverage program; and making an appropri-
ation therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new
2 section 25-a to read as follows:
3 § 25-a. Veterans' dental insurance coverage program. 1. The commis-
4 sioner shall establish a veterans' dental insurance coverage program, in
5 consultation with the commissioner of civil service, within the state
6 employee dental insurance plan. Such program shall provide comprehensive
7 and routine dental care services to New York state resident veterans as
8 such term is defined in this article.
9 2. Eligibility under this section shall not be granted to any person
10 who at the time an application is made is receiving equivalent or better
11 coverage from any other public or private third party payment source or
12 insurance plan than those benefits provided for under this section.
13 3. The commissioner shall establish a sliding scale for copayments
14 which shall be based on income and disability level of the veteran.
15 Veterans with a disability rating of between ten and fifty percent shall
16 be subject to copayment amounts as set by the director based on income.
17 Veterans with a disability rating of fifty percent or higher shall not
18 be subject to copayments for treatment or services under this program.
19 4. Program regulations shall:
20 (a) provide for a process of determining and re-determining eligibil-
21 ity for participation in this program including provisions for
22 submission of proof of veteran status, residency, income, disability
23 rating and information on existing complete or partial coverage of
24 dental expenses under a third party assistance or insurance plan;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07059-01-5
S. 3530 2
1 (b) provide for a fair hearing process for individuals and participat-
2 ing dentists to appeal determinations or actions of the contractors; and
3 (c) establish procedures for the state to recover the value of bene-
4 fits or payments made under this section, if any, that were based on
5 applications or claims submitted in violation of any provision of this
6 section.
7 § 2. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000), or so much thereof
8 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of civil
9 service out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to
10 the credit of the local assistance account, not otherwise appropriated,
11 and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the
12 provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and
13 warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the
14 president of the department of civil service in the manner prescribed by
15 law.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
17 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
18 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
19 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
20 completed on or before such effective date.
