Res 0924-2019

By Council Members Rosenthal, Chin, Adams, Koslowitz, Rivera, Cumbo, Gibson, Ampry-Samuel and Kallos 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, If passed, A.2807 will effectively codify Part 52 of Title 11 of the NYCRR, and ensure a woman'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, A.2807, 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. LS #10533 05/21/2019 CGR 2