Relates to requiring insurers participating in the NY state of health marketplace to offer at least one dental plan for individuals age 65 and older
Summary
A11235 would amend the Public Health Law to require insurers participating in the New York State of Health marketplace to offer at least one dental plan for individuals age 65 and older. The bill adds this dental-plan requirement to the existing marketplace participation standards for insurers, alongside the current obligation to offer at least one qualified health plan at the silver and gold levels.
In practical terms, the measure is aimed at expanding access to dental coverage for older adults shopping on the state marketplace. It does not create a new public program or mandate coverage for all seniors statewide; rather, it changes the conditions insurers must meet in order to participate in the marketplace. The bill would take effect on January 1 following enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend section 268-d of the Public Health Law, which governs insurer participation in the New York State of Health marketplace. Its main legal effect is to require participating insurers to include at least one dental plan, or approved dental plan, for enrollees age 65 and older, thereby adding a new marketplace participation standard. This would directly affect insurers offering plans through the exchange and could expand plan availability for older adults seeking dental coverage through the marketplace.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented debate or recorded floor sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears consumer-oriented and focused on improving access to dental benefits for seniors, with no explicit opposition reflected in the available materials.
Contention
The available record does not identify any specific points of contention. Potential issues that could arise, though not documented here, would likely concern insurers’ administrative burden, plan availability, premium effects, and whether the marketplace should require age-specific dental offerings. No legislators, advocates, or stakeholders are quoted in the provided materials as supporting or opposing the bill.
Directs the department of health to study and plan for integrating blockchain technology into the New York State of Health Marketplace and the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY) to improve interoperability and efficiency across these platforms; requires reporting; allows for public comment.
Requires insurers and corporations that issue, sell, renew or offer a specialized dental benefits plan policy or contract to report annually on data related to such dental benefits plan policies.
Requires insurers and corporations that issue, sell, renew or offer a specialized dental benefits plan policy or contract to report annually on data related to such dental benefits plan policies.
Requires all online marketplaces to require every person engaged in a transaction on its marketplace website, application or software, to verify their identity with the online marketplace.
Relates to certain procedural protections granted to third-party sellers and seller profiles of online marketplaces; provides that online marketplaces must provide notice and an opportunity to respond before a seller or profile is suspended; provides that a suspended third-party seller or seller profile shall have the right to appeal the determination of the online marketplace in seeking account reinstatement.
Relates to certain procedural protections granted to third-party sellers and seller profiles of online marketplaces; provides that online marketplaces must provide notice and an opportunity to respond before a seller or profile is suspended; provides that a suspended third-party seller or seller profile shall have the right to appeal the determination of the online marketplace in seeking account reinstatement.
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.