BILL NUMBER: S7594
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring insurers
participating in the NY state of health marketplace to offer at least
one dental plan for individuals age 65 and older
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that seniors in our State have a wide range of dental insur-
ance plans available to them, for consideration.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill amends the Health Law, specifically the section dealing with
the "NY State of Health MARKETPLACE" to ensure that all those who offer
health insurance plans in New York, also concurrently offer at least one
dental plan for seniors, in the "MARKETPLACE" as well.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
There is a dearth of available and effective dental-based health insur-
ance plans, in general, and specifically with respect to those that
would be viable options for our seniors. Not every Senior qualifies for
Medicaid, and many seniors do not have the resources to pay for dental
care out of pocket, nor should they have to. Thus, this bill requires
that any company offering health insurance in our so called Marketplace
concurrently offer at least one dental plan for seniors as well.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
NONE.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
First of January, Next Succeeding.

Statutes affected:
S7594: 268-d public health law, 268-d(1) public health law