New York S 9945: Protects the health insurance benefits of retirees of public employers and contributions of Medicare-eligible retirees of public employers

Bill Text

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S09945 Summary:

BILL NOS09945 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORADDABBO

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COSPNSRASHBY, BORRELLO, BOTTCHER, BYNOE, CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK, CHAN, CLEARE, COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, GALLIVAN,
 GONZALEZ, HARCKHAM, HELMING, HINCHEY, LANZA, LIU, MARTINEZ, MARTINS, MURRAY, MYRIE, OBERACKER,
 PALUMBO, RAMOS, RHOADS, RIVERA, ROLISON, RYAN C, SCARCELLA-SPANTON, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO, STAVISKY,
 WEBB, WEBER

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MLTSPNSR

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Prohibits public employers from diminishing health insurance benefits provided to Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents or the contributions such employer makes for such health insurance coverage below the level of such benefits or contributions made on behalf of such retirees and dependents by the public employer as of December 31, 2021.

Go to top S09945 Actions:

BILL NOS09945 

&nbsp

04/16/2026REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

Go to topS09945 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09945 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09945 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9945

 IN SENATE

 April 16, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions

 AN ACT in relation to protecting the health insurance benefits of reti-
 rees of public employers and contributions of retirees of Medicare-el-
 igible public employers

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known as the "Health Equity for Retirees
 2 Act" or "(HERA)".
 3 § 2. 1. On and after the effective date of this act, a public employer
 4 shall not diminish the health insurance benefits provided to retirees
 5 and their Medicare-eligible dependents or the contributions such employ-
 6 er makes for such health insurance coverage below the level of such
 7 benefits or contributions made on behalf of such retirees and their
 8 dependents by such public employer as of December 31, 2021. Nothing in
 9 this subdivision shall be construed to impair the ability of any employ-
 10 ee organization to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment for
 11 their employee members.
 12 2. For the purposes of this act:
 13 (a) "diminish" shall mean any change in health care offered that could
 14 potentially make it harder for retirees residing anywhere within the
 15 United States, including its territories and possessions, to access
 16 their health care than before such change was made. These changes shall
 17 include, but are not limited to, increasing the cost of such health care
 18 (including with respect to premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and
 19 copayments), reducing contributions made by a public employer, forcing
 20 retirees into Medicare Advantage Plans, forcing them to use health care
 21 providers only from pre-designated panels, or forcing them to wait for
 22 pre-authorization for medical procedures that are recommended by their
 23 health care providers;
 24 (b) "health care benefits" shall mean any and all aspects of health
 25 care coverage offered to retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents
 26 by public employers, including, but not limited to: (i) costs: this
 27 includes the amount of money (on either an absolute or proportional

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07760-02-5

 S. 9945 2

 1 basis) retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents are charged for
 2 premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments associated with any
 3 health care coverage; (ii) coverage: this encompasses the specific
 4 services and benefits covered by the health care plan, including inpa-
 5 tient and outpatient care, preventative services, prescription drugs,
 6 mental health and substance abuse treatment, and vision and dental care;
 7 and (iii) provider choice: this includes the ability of retirees and
 8 their Medicare-eligible dependents to access any health care provider
 9 who accepts Medicare or participates in the offered plan's network,
 10 without restriction;
 11 (c) "public employer" shall mean the following: (i) the state or a
 12 civil division