Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment fee schedule for the same service or item.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8969) requires all health insurers in New York to cover speech therapy for stuttering under medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive insurance plans. It mandates coverage upon a physician's referral for both habilitative (developing speech skills) and rehabilitative (restoring speech) therapy, provided by licensed professionals. Insurers cannot impose limits on the number of therapy visits or set maximum benefit amounts for this coverage. The bill specifically allows insurers to deny coverage if therapy is already provided through school-based plans (like IEPs or IFSPs), but requires supplemental coverage outside of schools when recommended by a doctor.

Permits licensed insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, consultants, and intermediaries to carryover up to five hours of continuing education credit per biennial licensing period.

Addresses non-covered dental services by requiring all policies providing coverage of and all contracts for dental services issued to include a disclosure stating that a participating provider may charge their normal fee for services that are not covered; requires a cost estimate to be provided.

Establishes an "operation SNUG" program within the division of criminal justice services which provides grant awards to reduce, prevent or respond to gun violence.

Enacts the "New York travel insurance act" regulating the licensing and registration of limited lines travel insurance producers and travel retailers, and the sale and marketing of travel insurance and related products.

Clarifies that residents of the state and any policyholder, contract holder, certificate holder, or beneficiary of a policy, contract, or certificate of life, accident and health insurance may sue an insurer for violations related to misrepresentations, misleading statements and incomplete comparisons.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets standards for the written exams that individuals must pass to obtain an insurance agent license. It mandates that testing organizations follow guidelines from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, unless state officials choose different rules. Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee covering the administrative costs of the exam, and the state may accept results from prior equivalent tests. These rules apply to all examinations conducted on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents insurance companies from denying policy renewals or issuing new policies solely because a privately owned vehicle is used for volunteer firefighting or nonprofit social service transportation. It directly affects individuals and organizations that rely on these vehicles for charitable or government-mandated transport duties, ensuring they are not penalized at the insurance stage for their volunteer work. The law requires insurers to evaluate these applications based on standard risk factors rather than the vehicle's specific use for public service. This change aims to remove financial barriers for those providing essential community support through volunteer efforts.

Indexes fixed dollar amounts in the statute to inflation, authorizes changes to compensation plans, removes obsolete language, and removes unnecessary filing requirements for certain life insurance and annuity businesses.