S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3947
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 29, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing reimburse-
ment for certain corrective lenses used to correct color vision defi-
ciency
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a
new subsection (u) to read as follows:
(U) (1) EVERY GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY OFFERED IN THE LARGE GROUP
MARKET THAT IS ISSUED, AMENDED, OR RENEWED IN THIS STATE SHALL PROVIDE
COVERAGE FOR CORRECTIVE LENSES USED TO CORRECT THE SIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS
MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED WITH COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY.
(2) AN INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO FOUR
HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY THIRTY-SIX MONTHS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE
PURCHASE OF UP TO ONE PAIR OF CORRECTIVE LENSES.
(3) THE INSURED PERSON MAY CHOOSE CORRECTIVE LENSES EXCEEDING THE
AMOUNT OF COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE
DIFFERENCE IN COST. REIMBURSEMENT SHALL BE PROVIDED ACCORDING TO THE
RESPECTIVE PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN AND MAY
INCLUDE SUCH POLICY PROVISIONS AS DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE, ALLOWABLE
CHARGE LIMITATIONS, AND COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.
(4) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, "CORRECTIVE LENSES" SHALL
MEAN ANY LENS, INCLUDING CONTACT LENSES, GLASSES OR SPECTACLES, WORN IN
FRONT OF THE EYE TO CORRECT THE SIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED
WITH COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY.
§ 2. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
subsection (ss) to read as follows:
(SS) (1) A GROUP CONTRACT ISSUED, AMENDED, OR RENEWED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION OFFERED IN THE LARGE GROUP MARKET SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01935-01-1
A. 3947 2
CORRECTIVE LENSES USED TO CORRECT THE SIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS MEDICALLY
DIAGNOSED WITH COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY.
(2) AN INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO FOUR
HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY THIRTY-SIX MONTHS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE
PURCHASE OF UP TO ONE PAIR OF CORRECTIVE LENSES.
(3) THE INSURED PERSON MAY CHOOSE CORRECTIVE LENSES EXCEEDING THE
AMOUNT OF COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE
DIFFERENCE IN COST. REIMBURSEMENT SHALL BE PROVIDED ACCORDING TO THE
RESPECTIVE PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN AND MAY
INCLUDE SUCH POLICY PROVISIONS AS DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE, ALLOWABLE
CHARGE LIMITATIONS, AND COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.
(4) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, "CORRECTIVE LENSES" SHALL
MEAN ANY LENS, INCLUDING CONTACT LENSES, GLASSES OR SPECTACLES, WORN IN
FRONT OF THE EYE TO CORRECT THE SIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED
WITH COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.