NY | New York has issued an amendment prohibiting authorized insurers and health maintenance organizations that provide comprehensive coverage for medical care from imposing, and states that no insured shall be required to pay, copayments, coinsurance, or annual deductibles for an in-network service otherwise covered under the policy.
Given the public health implications related to COVID-19, it is essential that New Yorkers continue to be able to access health care services in a way that limits the spread of COVID-19. The waiver of copayments, coinsurance, and annual deductibles for in-network telehealth services is necessary to ensure that people continue to have access to health care services in a way that limits in-person exposure. Additionally, encouraging people who do not need emergency care to use telehealth services alleviates the stress that COVID-19 puts on our health care system, in particular, the number of patients in emergency departments. Failure to encourage the use of telehealth services could result in the further spread of this epidemic and could jeopardize the health and safety of the people of New York.