Legislature Passes Key Insurance Measures

By Assemblyman Will Barclay

Committees play important roles in getting key legislation passed in State Government.  Senate and Assembly members serve on different committees.  For example, I sit on the Ways and Means committee, as well as the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions committee, the Judiciary committee, and the Ethics committee.  I am also the ranking Republican member on the Insurance Committee.  The Insurance Committee, among other things, oversees and monitors how state insurance regulations are carried out.  I participated in the progress of the following measures in the State Legislature during this legislative session, which I am glad to announce passed this session. These measures will become law if signed by the Governor.

* We expanded the Healthy New York program.  Those who apply to Healthy New York may qualify, regardless if they have been covered by another health plan during the 12-month period prior to applying to Healthy New York (A.395-A).

* We authorized insurers to create wellness programs.  A.10884-A authorizes health insurers, HMOs and municipal cooperative health plans to establish wellness programs, which would provide rewards and incentives for participation in programs designed to promote health and prevent disease.  Such programs could include: use of a health risk assessment tool; smoking cessation; weight or stress management; worker injury prevention; nutrition education; and, health or fitness incentives.

Rewards and incentives include full or partial reimbursement for smoking cessation or weight management program participation or health club/fitness center membership fees, waiver/reduction of co-payments, coinsurance or deductibles for preventative services and gift cards/ certificates for targeted products or services.

* Volunteer Firefighters and ambulance volunteers may be insured under their respective municipalities. A.7699-A authorizes participation by volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, provided the total cost of participation is borne by the volunteers.  This is great news for our volunteers and an incentive for more to join the volunteer ranks.

* S.7561 authorizes the sale of group identity theft and group property travel (such as trip cancellation, baggage and personal effects coverage) insurance policies.  This law also authorizes the Insurance Superintendent to allow additional types of group credit card coverage.

If you have any questions or comments or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office by mail at 200 North Second Street, Fulton, New York 13069, by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (315) 598-5185.

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