Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo announced today that the Department of Financial Services (DFS) is reminding all insurers authorized to write accident and health insurance in New York State, including health maintenance organizations, student health plans and municipal cooperative health benefit plans, that they must provide coverage for office visits for covered services, including those that may result in a medical marijuana certification, as long as the visit was not solely for the purpose of the certification.  DFS has received inquiries as to whether coverage must be provided for an office visit during which a practitioner, along with other services, provides a patient with a medical marijuana certification in accordance with New York Law.

“DFS is reminding insurers today of their obligation to provide coverage for healthcare services, and that they cannot deny coverage just because a doctor may provide a medical marijuana certification as part of an otherwise covered office visit,” said Superintendent Vullo.

The guidance issued by DFS today informs insurers that, under New York Insurance Law, when office visits that are covered by an insured’s insurance policy or contract results in a medical marijuana certification, insurers may not deny coverage for the office visit solely because the visit included a medical marijuana certification.

Consumer who have questions about what types of healthcare services are covered should contact www.dfs.gov or call (800-342-3736).