Senate Bill S501

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S501

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to private air ambulance
service

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To clarify that a subscription plan offered by a non-profit air ambu-
lance service is exempt from insurance licensing and other requirements.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1108 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection
(o) stating that a private air ambulance services that solicits member-
ship subscriptions does not fall under the purview of insurance provided
it meets certain criteria.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Subscription plans have a long history of serving as a means for chari-
table donations to emergency medical transporters. Many volunteer ambu-
lance companies and air medical transports have used subscription plans
as a way to encourage their communities' participation and to supplement
their financial needs. In recent years, there were some concerns that
these subscription plans may have fallen within the definition of insur-
ance and therefore needed to be licensed by the New York State Insurance
Department. This bill will clarify that a subscription plan offered by a
non-profit air ambulance service is not insurance and therefore allow-
able.  Air medical services generally handle on-scene emergency calls
which include car accidents, skiing injuries, and industrial accidents.
The 'rapid transport and quality of care received in the air has saved
thou- sands of lives and improved recovery outcomes for thousands more.
Emergency and inter-facility air transportation is expensive and the
cost is not wholly covered b insurance. Non-profit providers struggle to
keep their organizations viable and staffed with high quality and well
trained individuals yet their services are essential, particularly in
rural parts of New York. Rather than face losing these vital non-pro-
fits, this legislation would allow these organizations to use a
subscription plan as one of their many fundraising tools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019/ 2020 - S.764 - Referred to Insurance

2017/2018- S.2959 Referred to Insurance

2015/2016 - S.790 Referred to Insurance

2013/2014 - 5.1152 Referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance

2011/2012 - 5.3518 Referred to Senate Committee on Insurance

2009/2010 - S.8076 Referred to Senate Committee

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

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