S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    299
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- 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 (uu) to read as follows:
   (UU) (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.
                                                            LBD02163-01-3
 A. 299                              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.