A06091 Summary:
| BILL NO | A06091 |
| SAME AS | SAME AS S04724 |
| SPONSOR | McDonald |
| COSPNSR | O'Pharrow |
| MLTSPNSR | |
| Amd §161, Civ Serv L | |
| Ensures that public retirees are not having their skilled nursing care benefits reduced under the state health benefit plan at the time they enroll for medicare. | |
A06091 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to ensuring identical health benefits for skilled nursing care for public retirees PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To ensure that no public retiree loses their skilled nursing care bene- fits when they enroll in Medicare SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This legislation amends Section 161 of the civil service law by adding a new subdivision 4. JUSTIFICATION: Public retirees are required to enroll in Medicare when they become eligible, which saves the State money when Medicare becomes the primary payer for the retiree. In doing so, the retiree should not lose any health benefits simply because the payer has changed. In at least one instance, public retirees are losing the skilled nursing care benefit when they enroll in Medicare. The benefit for skilled nurs- ing care is reduced upon Medicare enrollment. The benefit for active employees and pre-Medicare retirees is 120 days without a requirement for any prior hospitalization. For Medicare-eligible retirees, the bene- fit is 20 days with a 3-day prior hospitalization requirement. This is an important benefit to retirees and should not be diminished. This bill provides that Civil Service will ensure that there is no reduction of benefits to retired employees when they enroll in Medicare. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2019-2020: A.7722A/S.5759A 2021-2022: A.9215/S.8192 VETOED MEM0.130 2023-2024: A.3896/S.4465 FISCAL IMPACT TO THE STATE: To be determined. EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.