---
title: "Employee Health Benefits in New York"
description: "New York group policies can extend continuation up to 36 months from its start when federal COBRA ends earlier; employers also have state notice and premium-remittance duties."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-york"
page-type: "coverage-state-guide"
updated-at: "2026-09-29"
coverage-line: "employee-health-benefits"
state: "new-york"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-york)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Employee Health Benefits guide for New York: state requirements, regulator, surplus-lines tax, and providers with state license records.

**Use this page when:** Answering employee health benefits questions specific to New York. For the general concept, use /coverage/employee-health-benefits; for other coverage in New York, use /coverage/states/new-york.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Do I need employee health benefits in New York?
- What are New York's employee health benefits requirements?
- Who regulates insurance in New York?
- Which providers hold New York licenses for employee health benefits?

**Key facts:**
- State regulator: New York State Department of Financial Services.
- Reported surplus-lines tax rate: 3.6%
- 0 providers listed with New York license records.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- State information reflects the cited sources at their access dates; confirm current requirements with the state regulator.
- A provider's presence in the license list does not confirm the product is available in this state; absence does not mean unlicensed. Verify with the regulator's license lookup.
- Some license records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification.
- Informational only; does not determine whether a policy meets a specific business's needs.

**Provenance:** 16 numbered sources with access dates; updated 2026-09-29.

**Related pages:**
- [Employee Health Benefits (national guide)](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits) — national concept guide
- [Business insurance in New York](https://spot.insure/coverage/states/new-york) — state hub: regulator and other coverage
- [Business insurance by state](https://spot.insure/coverage/states) — all states

# Employee Health Benefits in New York

New York group policies can extend continuation up to 36 months from its start when federal COBRA ends earlier; employers also have state notice and premium-remittance duties. Ask the administrator to map the state and federal periods before setting an employee’s last coverage date.[^1][^2]

**Coverage:** [Employee health and benefits](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits) · [New York](https://spot.insure/coverage/states/new-york)

## What Is Employee Health Benefits?

Employer health benefits give eligible staff access to medical care through a group plan or another employer arrangement. When setting a budget or renewing, compare eligibility, provider networks, employee contributions and total cost. [Read the national Employee health and benefits guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits).

## What Should You Watch for With Employee Health Benefits in New York?

### Track state continuation beyond COBRA

When an employee exhausts federal COBRA before 36 months from the initial continuation date, New York Insurance Law § 3221(m)(6) requires a group policy to offer continuation for the remaining period, if the employee otherwise qualifies. Ask the carrier to confirm the exact end date and premium before quoting replacement coverage.[^1]

### Build employer notice into plan termination

New York Labor Law § 217 addresses notice when a group policy will terminate or be replaced and requires employers to remit premiums for people exercising continuation rights. Coordinate the carrier’s notice schedule with payroll and the benefits administrator rather than treating termination as an ordinary renewal task.[^2]

### Check the certificate and federal overlap

The New York provision excludes situations where federal continuation is available, then addresses additional coverage after federal exhaustion. Keep the federal election record and the state certificate together so a dependent’s remaining term is not calculated from the wrong event.[^1][^2]

## Who Regulates Insurance in New York?

**New York State Department of Financial Services.** New York DFS supervises insurance companies and producers, administers insurance law and accepts consumer complaints about property and casualty policies, including commercial insurance.[^3][^4][^5][^6]

- [Regulator website](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/)
- [License lookup](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elprsmain.alice)
- [File a complaint](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/web/guest-applications/consumer-complaint)
- Phone: 800-342-3736

### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in New York

**Reported tax rate:** 3.6% of gross premium, less returned premium; ELANY stamping fee is 0.15% through 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on/after Jan. 1, 2027 When New York is the insured’s home state, excess-line tax is 3.6% of gross premium less returned premium. ELANY’s September 20, 2026 bulletin sets a 0.15% stamping fee through December 31, 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on or after January 1, 2027; statutory search requirements and guaranty-fund protection depend on the applicable New York excess-line rules.[^7][^8][^9][^10]
[Excess Line Association of New York](https://www.elany.org/)

## Providers With New York License Records

No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. [Check the regulator’s license lookup](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elprsmain.alice) and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

## Questions to Ask Before You Buy Employee Health Benefits in New York

1. Does the certificate provide New York continuation after federal COBRA, and what event starts the 36-month maximum?
2. Who sends the Labor Law § 217 notice and remits premiums while a former employee continues coverage?
3. Which state and federal continuation election deadlines apply to each covered dependent?

## Employee Health Benefits in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

### When can New York continuation reach 36 months?

If a person has less than 36 months of continuation under federal COBRA, § 3221(m)(6) requires the group policy to offer continuation up to 36 months from when continuation began, subject to eligibility and other terms.[^1]

### What does New York require when a group policy ends?

Labor Law § 217 addresses employee notice of planned group-policy termination or substitution and premium remittance for employees who choose continuation under applicable law.[^2]

## Employee Health Benefits Guides for Other States

- [Alabama](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/alabama)
- [Alaska](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/alaska)
- [Arizona](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/arizona)
- [Arkansas](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/arkansas)
- [California](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/california)
- [Colorado](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/colorado)
- [Connecticut](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/connecticut)
- [Delaware](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/delaware)
- [District of Columbia](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/district-of-columbia)
- [Florida](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/florida)
- [Georgia](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/georgia)
- [Hawaii](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/hawaii)
- [Idaho](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/idaho)
- [Illinois](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/illinois)
- [Indiana](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/indiana)
- [Iowa](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/iowa)
- [Kansas](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/kansas)
- [Kentucky](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/kentucky)
- [Louisiana](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/louisiana)
- [Maine](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/maine)
- [Maryland](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/maryland)
- [Massachusetts](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/massachusetts)
- [Michigan](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/michigan)
- [Minnesota](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/minnesota)
- [Mississippi](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/mississippi)
- [Missouri](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/missouri)
- [Montana](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/montana)
- [Nebraska](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/nebraska)
- [Nevada](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/nevada)
- [New Hampshire](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-hampshire)
- [New Jersey](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-jersey)
- [New Mexico](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-mexico)
- [North Carolina](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/north-carolina)
- [North Dakota](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/north-dakota)
- [Ohio](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/ohio)
- [Oklahoma](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/oklahoma)
- [Oregon](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/oregon)
- [Pennsylvania](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/pennsylvania)
- [Rhode Island](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/rhode-island)
- [South Carolina](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/south-carolina)
- [South Dakota](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/south-dakota)
- [Tennessee](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/tennessee)
- [Texas](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/texas)
- [Utah](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/utah)
- [Vermont](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/vermont)
- [Virginia](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/virginia)
- [Washington](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/washington)
- [West Virginia](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/west-virginia)
- [Wisconsin](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/wisconsin)
- [Wyoming](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/wyoming)

[Other Coverage in New York](https://spot.insure/coverage/states/new-york)

## Sources for Employee Health Benefits in New York

[^1]: [New York Insurance Law § 3221 — Group Policy Continuation](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/3221) — New York State Senate; § 3221(m)(6): continuation after federal COBRA exhaustion may reach 36 months from its start when federal coverage was shorter. Accessed 2026-09-29.
[^2]: [New York Labor Law § 217 — Employee Notice and Premium Remittance](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/LAB/217) — New York State Senate; Employer notice of intended termination or substitution and premium remittance for people exercising continuation rights. Accessed 2026-09-29.
[^3]: [New York State Department of Financial Services](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/) — New York State Department of Financial Services; Official regulator homepage.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^4]: [Who We Supervise](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/who_we_supervise) — New York State Department of Financial Services; DFS describes insurance oversight and provides links to company and producer searches.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^5]: [Insurance License Search](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elprsmain.alice) — New York State Department of Financial Services; DFS portal performs public insurance producer license searches; it displays a CAPTCHA to limit automated access.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^6]: [Consumer Complaints](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/web/guest-applications/consumer-complaint) — New York State Department of Financial Services; Official portal files insurance complaints for health, life and property/casualty insurance.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^7]: [New York Insurance Law §2118(d)(1)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/2118) — New York State Senate; Current statutory text: 3.6% of gross premiums less returned premium when New York is the insured’s home state.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^8]: [ELANY Bulletin 2026-20: Notice of Change in Stamping Fee](https://www.elany.org/docs/default-source/bulletins/stamping-fee-change-09222026.pdf?sfvrsn=169bd4c3_3) — Excess Line Association of New York; September 20, 2026 bulletin: 0.17% applies to policies incepting from Jan. 1, 2027; endorsements on policies incepting Jan. 1, 2023–Dec. 31, 2026 retain 0.15%; excess-line tax remains 3.6%.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^9]: [New York Insurance Law §2118](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/2118) — New York State Senate; Excess-line broker duties and filing requirements; §2118(a) due care; exceptions should be applied only where statutory conditions are met.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^10]: [New York Insurance Law §2118](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/2118) — New York State Senate; Excess-line statutory duties and policies; source is used for placement context. No state-specific guaranty cap/note included.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^11]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
[^12]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22.
[^13]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^14]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
[^15]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28.
[^16]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated 2026-09-29.

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits/new-york.md)
- [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers)
- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
- [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json)
- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)