Bill > A04211

This bill requires comprehensive health insurance coverage for obesity treatment across various New York state insurance policies, including Medicaid, individual, group, and comprehensive health plans. The coverage must include prevention and wellness services, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved anti-obesity medications. Specifically, FDA-approved anti-obesity medications are defined as those approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for chronic weight management in patients with obesity. The bill mandates that coverage for obesity treatment cannot be more restrictive or financially different from coverage for other medical conditions, meaning obesity treatment will be subject to the same deductible, copayment, and lifetime limit rules as other medical treatments. Insurers can still conduct utilization management to determine medical necessity, but must apply the same standards used for other medical conditions. Additionally, insurers are required to provide written notice to members about this comprehensive obesity treatment coverage, prominently positioning this information in their annual communications. The law will take effect 180 days after becoming law and will apply to all insurance policies issued, delivered, renewed, or modified after that date.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4211