New York Senate Bill S06749

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/25
• Refer: 3/21/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Provides for insurance coverage of comprehensive annual medical examinations for firefighters due to their increased risk for cancer and cancer-related diseases.

Summary

This bill requires most New York health insurance policies and contracts that provide medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive coverage to cover an annual comprehensive medical examination for insured firefighters. The required exam is highly detailed and includes a full symptom history, in-person physical examination, vital signs and body measurements, laboratory testing, spirometry, multiple cancer screenings, and a stress electrocardiogram. The bill also requires a chest x-ray every five years and allows additional testing if determined necessary by the commissioner of health. The bill defines “firefighter” as a firefighter regularly employed by a municipal fire department in New York. To receive the benefit, the insured must identify their profession and years of service to their primary care provider. The coverage mandate applies to policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after the effective date, which is immediate upon enactment.

Impact

The bill amends three separate sections of the Insurance Law—sections 3216, 3221, and 4303—to add a new coverage requirement for individual, group, and nonprofit health insurance products. It would create a new statutory insurance benefit for municipal firefighters, shifting the cost of these annual exams and related screenings from firefighters to insurers, subject to the policy terms and the bill’s coverage mandate. The measure would affect insurers, health plans, firefighters, and primary care providers, and it gives the Department of Health commissioner authority to require additional testing as needed.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, as reflected in its purpose statement emphasizing firefighters’ increased cancer risk and the need for preventive screening. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or divided debate in the available materials. The bill appears framed as a health-protection measure for first responders rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main policy issue is the scope and cost of the mandated benefit. Insurers may view the bill as expanding required coverage for a broad and expensive set of screenings, while supporters are likely to emphasize the occupational hazards firefighters face, especially cancer and cancer-related disease. Another possible point of discussion is the bill’s definition of firefighter, which is limited to those regularly employed by municipal fire departments, potentially excluding volunteers or other fire service personnel. The requirement that the insured disclose profession and years of service may also raise administrative questions, though no specific objections are documented in the provided record.