Senate Bill S2659

                                BILL NUMBER:S2659

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the executive law and the military law,
in relation to the establishment of the New
York state veteran health insurance
act

PURPOSE:
This bill would create the New York State Veteran Health Insurance Act
to provide health care insurance for certain National Guard members

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill would provide that this act would be know and
may be cited as the New York State Veteran Health Insurance Act.

Section Two of this bill would amend the executive law to adding a new
section 369 to provide that the New York state division of military
and naval affairs would be directed to administrate, in cooperation
with the division of veterans affairs, a New York state veteran
health insurance program. Such program would provide any person, who
is a member of the
New York Army National Guard or the New York Air National Guard, and
who is eligible to enroll in the TRICARE Reserve Select Health
              

Insurance Program with any and all enrollment fees, cost sharing or
co-payments necessary for such person to enroll in and obtain
individual or family coverage under such program. The payment of such
fees, cost sharing or co-payments may be provided, pursuant to
regulation, either directly to the TRICARE Reserve Select Health
Insurance Program, or its agents, or to the individual enrollee, upon
sufficient proof of enrollment. Nothing in this section, however,
shall require the Veteran health insurance program to provide payment
for program deductibles or for the 20 percent non plan medical
provider co-payment, or the 15 percent plan medical provider
co-payment.

Section Three of this bill would amend the military law to add a new
section 246-a to direct the New York state division of military and
naval affairs to cooperate with the division of veterans affairs to
accomplish this task.

JUSTIFICATION:
Our nation's war on terrorism has required that the members of the New
York. National Guard and Air National Guard step forward to play a
critical
role in the security of both the State and the Nation. The
challenges which have been ably met by. the New York National Guard
can continue to be overcome only as long as the New York National
Guard continues to attract highly qualified citizen-soldiers
committed to the protection of the State and Nation.

Members of the New York National Guard and Air National Guard
presently receive health care coverage from the federal veterans
administration if they are called to active duty, and then thereafter


for a limited period of time. Such National Guard members, however,
are eligible, under a federally arranged program to receive health
insurance from a private insurer known as TRICARE.

In order to receive such coverage, however, such service members must
pay a co-payment of nearly $3,000. As many members of the Guard do
not have the resources to afford this co-pay, many go uninsured and
without coverage.

This bill would have the state of New York pay for the co-pay as a
benefit to Guard members. thereby assuring that they have health
insurance, and relieving any cost that could incur to medicaid or
child health plus. As a result, for a fraction of the cost that it
would expend to cover a state employee, this program would assure
Guard members have family health insurance coverage.

This bill would not only serve as an important recruitment and
retention incentive, but also provide a fitting reward for their
public, state and national service.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2008 - S.5063B - Passed Senate.
1/25/11 Reported and Committed to Finance
6/6/12 Reported and Committed to Finance

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
According to DMNA and TRICARE it is estimated that no more than
approximately 3000 individuals would take advantage of this coverage
option in the event that the co-pay is provided. With family
coverage, such state share would constitute $253 per month or $3036
per year. This would effect a total maximum cost of $9,108,000. Due
to the age and income demographics of the personnel involved,
however, many would not take have to purchase family coverage
(thereby lowering their annual cost to $972). Additionally, income
demographics of the personnel involved, indicate that many of these
individuals would also otherwise qualify for medicaid or child health
plus. As a result of these two qualifications, the maximum cost of
$9,108,000 estimated for this program would actually
be far less, to the point where this proposal could actually be close
to revenue neutral.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become
a law.