Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C–Walden) today announced he is joining a bipartisan effort to assist New York families facing sudden disruptions in their health insurance coverage. Maher is urging colleagues on both sides of the aisle to sign on as co-sponsors of bill A.8850/S.8124, which would create a special open-enrollment period for individuals whose doctor or preferred provider is dropped from their insurance network mid-year due to contractual disputes.

Under current law, New Yorkers may only change their health insurance plan during the annual enrollment period or after experiencing a “qualifying life event” such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy or job change. However, insurers can modify or terminate contracts with doctors, hospitals or pharmaceutical providers at any time—often leaving patients without access to the medical professionals they rely on.

Maher noted earlier this fall, after receiving countless phone calls from impacted families, NewYork–Presbyterian and Healthfirst narrowly avoided a major coverage crisis when they reached a last-minute agreement, preserving access for more than 2 million New Yorkers. But situations like this are happening more frequently, putting families in limbo with no recourse.

“It’s completely unfair that a family can carefully choose a health plan, only to have their doctor removed from the network because of a contract dispute they have no control over,” said Maher. “Patients deserve stability. They deserve continuity of care. And they deserve the power to make informed decisions when their provider is suddenly taken away from them.”

Maher said this bipartisan bill restores that power by allowing individuals to switch to a different insurance plan if their provider is dropped for contractual reasons outside the consumer’s control.

“Patients build relationships with their doctors—relationships based on trust and ongoing care,” Maher added. “This legislation gives families the flexibility they need to stay with the providers they know and depend on. This is a commonsense, bipartisan fix that puts patients first and I am proud to join both my democrat and republican colleagues to push this legislation forward.” Maher is encouraging lawmakers in both chambers to join him in advancing the bill this session.

This legislation is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero and in the Senate by Senator Jake Ashby.