Res. No. 171
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, an act to amend the insurance law in relation to requiring that provision be made for pregnancy termination procedures in every individual or group policy or contract which provides coverage or indemnity for hospital, surgical or medical care and which offers maternity care coverage.
By Council Members Rivera, Hudson, Louis, Nurse and Restler
Whereas, Access to comprehensive reproductive health care includes abortion; and
Whereas, Barriers to abortion care are increasing at the local, regional and national levels via various institutional, legislative and regulatory restrictions; and
Whereas, States have the responsibility to regulate fully insured individual, small and large group health insurance policies issued in their state, and can choose to regulate whether abortion coverage is included or excluded in private plans that are not self-insured; and
Whereas, Part 52 of Title 11 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) requires all fully insured insurance policies that provide hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage to cover “medically necessary” abortions without copayments, coinsurance, or annual deductibles; and
Whereas, While the codes, rules and regulations contained in the NYCRR have the force of law, an executive agency may take steps to change them at any time; and
Whereas, A.2807, sponsored by State Assembly Member Deborah Glick, would require every health insurance policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical or medical care and which offers maternity care coverage, to include coverage for the cost of an abortion without any cost-sharing requirements, such as co-pays or deductibles; and
Whereas, A.2807 was active in the 2019-2020 Legislative Session, and the New York State Legislature should introduce and pass identical legislation; and
Whereas, If passed, such legislation will effectively codify Part 52 of Title 11 of the NYCRR, and ensure a birthing person’s right to comprehensive reproductive health care coverage in the state of New York; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, an act to amend the insurance law in relation to requiring that provision be made for pregnancy termination procedures in every individual or group policy or contract which provides coverage or indemnity for hospital, surgical or medical care and which offers maternity care coverage.
Session 12
EB
LS 7799
03.03.2022
Session 11
CGR
LS #10533
Res. 0924-2019