STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9906
IN SENATE
September 11, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- 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 requiring coverage of
asthma inhalers at no cost
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 medical coverage that includes
4 coverage for physician services in a physician's office and every policy
5 which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage
6 shall include coverage for inhalers for the treatment of asthma if
7 recommended or prescribed by a physician or other licensed health care
8 provider legally authorized to prescribe under title eight of the educa-
9 tion law.
10 (B) Such coverage shall not be subject to a deductible, copayment,
11 coinsurance or any other cost-sharing requirement.
12 § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
13 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
14 (23) (A) Every group or blanket accident and health insurance policy
15 issued or issued for delivery in this state which provides medical
16 coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's
17 office and every policy which provides major medical or similar compre-
18 hensive-type coverage shall include coverage for inhalers for the treat-
19 ment of asthma if recommended or prescribed by a physician or other
20 licensed health care provider legally authorized to prescribe under
21 title eight of the education law.
22 (B) Such coverage shall not be subject to a deductible, copayment,
23 coinsurance or any other cost-sharing requirement.
24 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
25 subsection (ww) to read as follows:
26 (ww) (1) A medical expense indemnity corporation or a health service
27 corporation which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for
28 physician services in a physician's office and every policy which
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16080-02-4
S. 9906 2
1 provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall
2 include coverage for inhalers for the treatment of asthma if recommended
3 or prescribed by a physician or other licensed health care provider
4 legally authorized to prescribe under title eight of the education law.
5 (2) Such coverage shall not be subject to a deductible, copayment,
6 coinsurance or any other cost-sharing requirement.
7 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
8 policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on
9 or after such date.
