S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
647
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to prohibiting insurance
coverage for physician assisted suicide
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a
new subsection (n) to read as follows:
(N) (1) NO POLICY DELIVERED OR ISSUED FOR DELIVERY IN THIS STATE SHALL
PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, COVERAGE FOR ANY AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
(2) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION "PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE" SHALL
MEAN THE VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF ONE'S OWN LIFE BY ADMINISTRATION OF A
LETHAL SUBSTANCE WITH THE DIRECT OR INDIRECT ASSISTANCE OF A PHYSICIAN
AND "AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUG" SHALL MEAN A DRUG DETERMINED AND
PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE TO SELF-ADMIN-
ISTER TO BRING ABOUT HIS OR HER DEATH.
§ 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
subsection (t) to read as follows:
(T) (1) NO POLICY OF GROUP OR BLANKET ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE
SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, COVERAGE FOR ANY AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
(2) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION "PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE" SHALL
MEAN VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF ONE'S OWN LIFE BY ADMINISTRATION OF A
LETHAL SUBSTANCE WITH THE DIRECT OR INDIRECT ASSISTANCE OF A PHYSICIAN
AND "AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUG" SHALL MEAN A DRUG DETERMINED AND
PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE TO SELF-ADMIN-
ISTER TO BRING ABOUT HIS OR HER DEATH.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
subsection (ss) to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04499-01-9
S. 647 2
(SS) (1) NO CONTRACT ISSUED BY A MEDICAL EXPENSE INDEMNITY CORPO-
RATION, HOSPITAL SERVICE CORPORATION OR HEALTH SERVICE CORPORATION SHALL
PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, COVERAGE FOR ANY AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
(2) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION "PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE" SHALL
MEAN VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF ONE'S OWN LIFE BY ADMINISTRATION OF A
LETHAL SUBSTANCE WITH THE DIRECT OR INDIRECT ASSISTANCE OF A PHYSICIAN
AND "AID-IN-DYING PRESCRIPTION DRUG" SHALL MEAN A DRUG DETERMINED AND
PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE TO SELF-ADMIN-
ISTER TO BRING ABOUT HIS OR HER DEATH.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
contracts entered into, renewed, modified or amended on or after such
effective date.