Insurance committee considers bill dated for 2648 to remove age limits on preventive screenings

The New York State Senate Committee on Insurance on May 5 considered a bill dated for 2648 that would amend the insurance law and the social services law to remove age limits on diagnostic and preventive health screenings.

Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the change would expand mandated coverage beyond age thresholds set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. A staff speaker summarized the bill’s effect, saying, “This expands the mandate. The mandate currently goes with The United States for, preventative services task force recommendation and their age limits. So this bill will remove those age limits to allow the diagnostic and preventative screenings to have and without nasal caution.”

A committee member asked whether the bill would be separate from prior expansions that eliminated co-pays for breast cancer screening; the question was framed as: “didn't we expand coverage or do away with co pays having to do with breast cancer screenings? And so does this expand that mandate?” A staff response clarified that the bill would remove age limits currently tied to the task force guidance. The transcript does not record specifics about which screenings beyond the general phrase “diagnostic and preventative screenings.”

Several witnesses urged passage. One testifier said, “This bill is overdue. We should've had a year ago,” and asked the committee to move the bill forward. Another witness spoke about the bill’s potential to remove barriers to care and described sports and community outreach as part of advocacy for the measure. Committee members also cautioned about insurance cost implications, with one member noting that broad mandates can increase insurance costs and that the committee has to balance coverage goals with market stability.

Near the end of the record, a legislator moved to report the bill out of committee. The transcript records the motion to move the bill forward but does not record a formal roll-call vote or a final outcome in the public transcript.

The discussion combined policy questions about coverage scope and practical concerns about insurance market impacts. The record shows support from witnesses and a sponsor motion to advance the bill; it does not show a completed committee vote or any amendments recorded in the transcript.

Future steps or dates for further committee action were not specified in the transcript.