New Year, New Laws: Governor Hochul Announces Affordable Health Care Laws Going into Effect on January 1

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the new year will bring new affordable health care laws. Effective on January 1, 2026, Health insurers will be required to cover medically necessary EpiPens and cap out-of-pocket costs at $100 per year, breast cancer screening and imaging, and the cost of scalp cooling systems to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.

"New Yorkers shouldn't have to choose between putting food on the table or being able to afford life-saving medical devices and procedures," Governor Hochul said. "With these new laws going into effect, individuals will be able to focus on their health and wellbeing without having to worry about the financial burdens tied to treatments."

Insurance Coverage for EpiPens

EpiPen devices are used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions in individuals who are at risk or have a history of anaphylaxis, which can be caused by insect bites or stings, foods, medications, environmental exposures, exercise and other unknown causes.

The cost of EpiPen devices has far outpaced the rate of inflation, with some reports citing a 600 percent increase in price since the medication was first acquired by Mylan in 2007. While EpiPens once cost $60 per device, they can now sell for upwards of $600 for a pack of two pens. EpiPens have a relatively short shelf-life, expiring after 12 months on average, requiring those in need to purchase the medication repeatedly. Adding to their expense, users of EpiPens are also advised to carry two devices at all times, as a single dose of epinephrine may not be enough to treat a serious allergic reaction.

This new law will dramatically reduce the cost of these devices for consumers by requiring health insurers in the individual and group markets, including non-profit insurers and HMOs, to cover medically necessary EpiPens for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions and cap out-of-pocket costs for such coverage at $100 per year.

Expanding Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Screening and Imaging

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females in New York State. Each year in New York, at least 17,000 females are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 2,400 die from the disease. It is estimated that one in eight females will develop breast cancer during their life. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females in New York State. It is most often found in females ages 50 and older.

The new law changes parts of the Insurance Law to require individual, group and non-profit (including HMO) health insurance plans to cover breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging. This coverage applies if a doctor recommends it based on nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The screenings include diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and MRIs. The new law also clarifies that cost-sharing will not apply to these procedures except to the extent it would result in health savings account ineligibility under IRS guidelines.

Covering Cost of Scalp Cooling Systems

Scalp cooling is covered by Medicaid and Medicare, and three different cooling systems have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Without insurance coverage, patients must pay out of pocket, which ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per round of chemotherapy.

The new law requires health insurers in the large group market to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems that are used during chemotherapy treatment. As part of the treatment, patients wear a cooling cap before, during and after each chemotherapy session to reduce the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach the hair follicles, which helps to preserve a person's hair.

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, "I introduced the scalp cooling bill year after year, and it really hit home for me personally in 2023 when my daughter-in-law, Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Preserving hair during chemotherapy treatment is essential and helps them hold onto a sense of identity and normalcy as a person, not a cancer patient. I want to thank Governor Hochul, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, the advocates, and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who helped bring this to reality. This landmark, first-in-the-nation law has been a long time coming."

Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal said, "I am thrilled that the law I sponsored mandating insurance coverage for scalp-cooling devices that preserve the hair of those undergoing chemotherapy is now in effect. Cancer treatment must address the whole person, and by giving people access to hair preservation systems, we allow them the privacy to tackle their illness on their own terms, free of obvious signs of chemotherapy. This first-in-the-nation measure restores dignity and lessens the burden carried by New Yorkers going through cancer and treatment side affects."

Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter said, "No New Yorker should be forced to choose between their health and their finances. This law is about fairness, dignity, and basic common sense. By capping the cost of lifesaving EpiPens, expanding access to critical breast cancer screening, and covering scalp cooling for people undergoing chemotherapy, we are removing financial barriers that have no place in our health care system. These reforms will save lives, reduce stress for families, and ensure that medically necessary care is accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it."

Contact the Governor's Press Office