Assembly Bill 1011, a bill requiring insurance companies to cover prostheses is headed to the Assembly floor for a vote.  Urge your assembly member to support this important bill!

·  Sample letter 

·   Click here to find your legislator. 

Senate Bill 502 was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.  The Commerce Committee is chaired by Sen. Nia Gill.  She is the sponsor of this bill.  This is very exciting!  We need to make sure the rest of her committee support this important bill! Take action today!

Commerce Committee members

Click here for contact information for Sen. Nicolas Scutari.

Click here for contact information for Sen. Gerald Cardinale.

Click here for contact information for Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak. 

Click here for contact information for Sen. Robert Singer.   

Sample Letter to Committee Members

Dear Senator _________,

I am writing in response to Senate Bill 502. Sponsored by Chairman Nia Gill, this bill requires insurance companies to cover prosthetic device and components.

In return for premiums paid for group health insurance, consumers expect to be covered for catastrophic illness or injury. Sadly, without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living with the loss or absence of a limb face discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care. This has a devastating effect on amputees and their families.

You may be concerned about passing a new mandate.  None of us want to see health insurance costs pushed beyond the reach of the average consumer. Fortunately, we have both state and national data that demonstrates the economic benefit of providing prostheses.  

 A Department of Health Care Policy and Financing report indicated the maximum increase in premiums for prosthetic provision would be 12 cents per member per month. This estimate didn’t take into account that there would also be a cost savings by both the private and public sector. In the first year of implementation, covering prosthetics and orthotics resulted in a net savings of almost half a million dollars. These savings were for medical expenses only.

The provision of prostheses results in a variety of benefits, some of which are fiscal in nature, while others are related to quality of life issues, which are less measurable. In addition, this segment of the population can continue to be contributing members of society instead of becoming dependent on it.

Both the financial and social benefits provide a strong case for prosthetic coverage. I urge you to support Senate Bill 502 when it comes before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Sincerely,

Name, Address, Phone

Take a moment to thank Sen. Gill!   

Click here for contact information for Sen. Nia Gill, the sponsor of Senate Bill 502 and Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.    

Sample Letter to thank the bill sponsor

Dear Sen. Gill,

  I want to thank you for sponsoring Senate Bill 502.  So many people in New Jersey are struggling to get the coverage they need for their prosthesis. When people discover that prosthetic care isn’t covered, they may be forced to use retirement or children's college savings to buy a prosthesis to keep working. Some take out home mortgages, bank loans, or even use high interest credit cards to get the prosthesis they need. 

  The data shows that providing prosthetics actually saves money to the public and private sector.  It is also the right thing to do.  I am so thankful that we have strong champions like you! 

 Thank you again.

Sincerely,

  Name, Address, Phone