S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6919
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 18, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Insurance
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance  law  and  the  social  services  law,  in
   relation to insurance coverage for dental night guards
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216  of  the  insurance  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 40 to read as follows:
   (40)  (A)  EVERY  POLICY  WHICH PROVIDES COVERAGE OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR
 DENTAL SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR NIGHT GUARDS
 WHEN SUCH NIGHT GUARD IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED DENTIST.
   (B) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "NIGHT GUARD" MEANS  A  PROTECTIVE
 DEVICE  FOR  THE  MOUTH  THAT  COVERS  THE TEETH AND GUMS TO PREVENT AND
 REDUCE INJURY TO THE TEETH, ARCHES, LIPS AND GUMS.
   § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
   (23) (A) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES  COVERAGE  OR  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR
 DENTAL SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR NIGHT GUARDS
 WHEN SUCH NIGHT GUARD IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED DENTIST.
   (B)  FOR  PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "NIGHT GUARD" MEANS A PROTECTIVE
 DEVICE FOR THE MOUTH THAT COVERS THE  TEETH  AND  GUMS  TO  PREVENT  AND
 REDUCE INJURY TO THE TEETH, ARCHES, LIPS AND GUMS.
   §  3.  Section  4303  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 subsection (ww) to read as follows:
   (WW) (1) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES  COVERAGE  OR  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR
 DENTAL SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR NIGHT GUARDS
 WHEN SUCH NIGHT GUARD IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED DENTIST.
   (2)  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, "NIGHT GUARD" MEANS A PROTECTIVE
 DEVICE FOR THE MOUTH THAT COVERS THE  TEETH  AND  GUMS  TO  PREVENT  AND
 REDUCE INJURY TO THE TEETH, ARCHES, LIPS AND GUMS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07027-01-5
 A. 6919                             2
              

 
   §  4.  Subdivision  2  of  section 365-a of the social services law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (f-1) to read as follows:
   (F-1)  DENTAL NIGHT GUARDS, AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH FORTY
 OF SECTION THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN OF THE INSURANCE  LAW,  WHEN  SUCH
 NIGHT GUARD IS PRESCRIBED BY A LICENSED DENTIST;
   §  5.  This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to poli-
 cies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended  on  or
 after such effective date.