S 2648: Provides that dental insurance coverage shall include coverage for night guards; defines dental night guards; provides that dental night guards shall be covered under Medicaid.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2648 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 22, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law and the social services law, in relation to insurance coverage for dental night guards The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is 2 amended by adding a new paragraph 40 to read as follows: 3 (40) (A) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for 4 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards 5 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist. 6 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, "night guard" means a protective 7 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and 8 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. 9 § 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by 10 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows: 11 (23) (A) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for 12 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards 13 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist. 14 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, "night guard" means a protective 15 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and 16 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. 17 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 18 subsection (ww) to read as follows: 19 (ww) (1) Every policy which provides coverage or reimbursement for 20 dental services shall provide coverage or reimbursement for night guards 21 when such night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist. 22 (2) For purposes of this subsection, "night guard" means a protective 23 device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and 24 reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07027-01-5 
 S. 2648 2 1 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is 2 amended by adding a new paragraph (f-1) to read as follows: 3 (f-1) dental night guards, as such term is defined in paragraph forty 4 of section thirty-two hundred sixteen of the insurance law, when such 5 night guard is prescribed by a licensed dentist; 6 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to poli- 7 cies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or 8 after such effective date.