Bill > S01804

This bill requires all health insurance policies in New York that provide prescription drug coverage to include coverage for asthma inhalers without additional out-of-pocket costs for patients. Specifically, the legislation mandates that insurers cover one rescue inhaler (used during acute asthma attacks to quickly open airways) and one maintenance inhaler (used regularly to control and prevent asthma symptoms) at no cost to the patient, meaning no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. The inhalers must be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider authorized under New York state education law. The bill includes a provision for high-deductible health plans, allowing these plans to apply the inhaler coverage to their annual deductible if necessary to maintain health savings account eligibility. This legislation applies to individual policies, group insurance plans, and medical expense indemnity corporations, and will take effect on January 1, 2027, applying to all new, renewed, or modified insurance policies from that date forward.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1804