Assemblyman Andrew Molitor (R,C-Westfield) has introduced legislation (A.10788) that would direct the superintendent of Financial Services, in cooperation with the state comptroller and the Commissioner of Health, to conduct a comprehensive study examining New York’s mandatory health insurance coverage requirements and their impact on the cost of health care for New Yorkers.

“New Yorkers are paying some of the highest health insurance premiums in the country, and they deserve to know exactly why,” said Molitor. “This bill is about transparency, giving families a clear picture of what they may be required to pay for, and whether they need it or not. Before we can have a real conversation about health care affordability, we need all the information out in the open for all to see.”

New York currently requires health insurance policies to include more than 60 mandated coverages, among the highest of any state in the nation. While many of these mandates serve important purposes, the effect has been a steady rise in premiums well above the national average, placing a significant financial strain on families and employers across the state.

Under this bill, the superintendent of Financial Services would identify which of New York’s mandatory coverages exceed what other states require, calculate the individualized cost those additional mandates impose on New Yorkers, and figure out how frequently each coverage is actually used by the policyholders. A findings report, along with any legislative recommendations, will be issued within two years of the bill’s passage.

“This isn’t about stripping away coverage, it’s about having an honest conversation about the burden healthcare premiums place on New Yorkers,” Molitor continued. “Right now, we are asking people to pay for things that they may never use, with no clear accounting of the costs to them. This study would finally put those numbers on the table.”